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wistful inquiries with a curious detachment of mind。 He had reached that middle state of any powerful emotion when even the external objects among which one moves seem affected by the inward struggle between reason and desirethe field in which he worked； the distant landscape； the familiar faces in the house； and those frail； pathetic gestures of his mother's hands； all expressed in outward forms something of the passion which he felt stirring in his own breast。 It was in his nature to dare risks blindlyto hesitate at no experience offered him in his narrow life； and there were moments during this long day when he found himself questioning if one might not； after all； plunge headlong into the impossible。
As he rose from the supper table； where he had pushed his untasted food impatiently away； he remembered that he had promised in the morning to meet Will Fletcher at the store； and； lighting his lantern； he started out to keep the appointment he had almost forgotten。 He found Will overflowing with his domestic troubles； and it was after ten o'clock before they both came out upon the road and turned into opposite ways at the beginning of Sol Peterkin's lane。
〃I'll help you with the ploughing； of course；〃 Christopher said； as they lingered together a moment before parting； 〃make your mind quite easy about that。 I'll be over at sunrise on Monday and put in a whole day's job。〃
Then； as he fell back into his own road； he found something like satisfaction in the prospect of driving Will Fletcher's plough。 The easy indifference with which he was accustomed to lend a hand in a neighbour's difficulty had always marked his association with the man whose ruin； he still assured himself； he had wrought。
It was a dark； moonless night； with only a faint； nebulous whiteness where the clouded stars shone overhead。 His lantern； swinging lightly from his hand； cast a shining yellow circle on the ground before him； and it was by this illumination that he saw presently； as he neared the sunken road into which he was about to turn； a portion of the shadow by the ice…pond detach itself from the surrounding blackness and drift rapidly to meet him。 In his first start of surprise； he raised the lantern quickly above his head and waited breathlessly while the advancing shape assumed gradually a woman's form。 The old ghost stories of his childhood thronged confusedly into his brain； and then； before the thrilling certainty of the figure before him； he uttered a single joyous exclamation：
〃You！〃
The light flashed full upon Maria's face； which gave back to him a white and tired look。 Her eyes were heavy； and there was a strange solemnity about themsomething that appealed vaguely to his religious instinct。
〃What in heaven's name has happened？〃 he asked； and his voice escaped his control and trembled with emotion。
With a tired little laugh； she screened her eyes from the lantern。
〃I had a talk with grandfather about Will；〃 she answered； 〃and he got so angry that he locked me out of doors。 He had had a worrying day in town； and I think he hardly knew what he was doingbut he has put up the bars and turned out the lights； and there's really no way of getting in。〃
He thought for a moment。 〃Will you go on to your brother's； or is it too far？〃
〃At first I started there； but that must have been hours ago； and it was so dark I got lost by the ice…pond。 After all； it would only make matters worse if I saw Will again； so the question is； Where am I to sleep？〃
〃At Tom Spade's； thenor〃 he hesitated an instant； 〃if you care to come to us； my sister will gladly find room for you。〃
She shook her head。 〃No； no； you are very kind； but I can't do that。 It is best that I shouldn't leave the place； perhaps； and when the servant comes over at sunrise I can slip up into my room。 If you'll lend me your lantern I'll make myself some kind of a bed in the barn。 Fortunately； grandfather forgot to lock the door。〃
〃In the barn？〃 he echoed； surprised。
〃Oh； I went there first； but after I lay down I suddenly remembered the mice and got up and came away。 I'm mortally afraid of mice in the dark； but your lantern will keep them off； will it not？〃
She smiled at him from the shining circle which surrounded her like a halo； and for a moment he forgot her words in the wonderful sense of her nearness。 Around them the night stretched like a cloak； enclosing them in an emotional intimacy which had all the warmth of a caress。 As she leaned back against the body of a tree； and he drew forward that he might hold the lantern above her head； the situation was resolved； in spite of the effort that he made； into the eternal problem of the man and the woman。 He was aware that his blood worked rapidly in his veins； and as her glance reached upward from the light to meet his in the shadow he realised with the swiftness of intuition that in her also the appeal of the silence was faced with a struggle。 They would ignore it； he knew； and yet it shone in their eyes； quivered in their voices； and trembled in their divided hands； and to them both its presence was alive and evident in the space between them。 He saw her bosom rise and fall； her lips part slightly； and a tremor disturb the high serenity of her self…control； and there came to him the memory of their first meeting at the cross…roads and of the mystery and the rapture of his boyish love。 He had found her then the lady of his dreams； and now； after all the violence of his revolt against her； she was still to him as he had first seen herthe woman whose soul looked at him from her face。
For a breathless momentfor a single heart…beatit seemed to him that he had but to lean down and gather her eyes and lips and hands to his embrace； to feel her awaken to life within his arms and her warm blood leap up beneath his mouth。 Then the madness left him as suddenly as it had come； and she grew strangely white； and distant； and almost unreal； in the spiritual beauty of her look。 He caught his breath sharply； and lowered his gaze to the yellow circle that trembled on the ground。
〃But you will be afraid even with the light；〃 he said； in a voice which had grown almost expressionless。
As if awaking suddenly from sleep； she passed her hand slowly across her eyes。
〃No； I shall not be afraid with the light；〃 she answered； and moved out into the road。
〃Then let me hold it for youthe hill is very rocky。〃
She assented silently； and quickened her steps down the long incline； then； as she stumbled in the darkness； he threw the lantern over upon her side。 〃If you will lean on me I think I can steady you；〃 he suggested； waiting until she turned and laid her hand upon his arm。 〃That's better now； go slowly and leave the road to me。 How in thunder did you come over it in the pitch dark？〃
〃I fell several times；〃 she replied； with a little unsteady laugh； 〃and my feet are oh！ so hurt and bruised。 Tomorrow I shall go on crutches。〃
〃A bad night's work； then。〃
〃But not so bad as it might have been；〃 she added cheerfully。
〃You mean if I had not found you it would have been worse。 Well； I'm glad that much good has come out of it。 I have spared you a coldso that goes down to my credit； otherwiseBut what difference doe