He extended his hand, smiling, and I delivered mine into it without a moment’s hesitation, and when his fingers closed about it to assist me to my feet the consciousness that it trembled made me blush worse than the red west.  I got up, however, and after a while, observing that he had not let go my hand I pulled on it a little, but unsuccessfully.  He simply held on, saying nothing, but looking down into my face with some kind of smile—­I didn’t know—­how could I?—­whether it was affectionate, derisive, or what, for I did not look at him.  How beautiful he was!—­ with the red fires of the sunset burning in the depths of his eyes.  Do you know, dear, if the Thugs and Experts of the Blavatsky region have any special kind of eyes?  Ah, you should have seen his superb attitude, the god-like inclination of his head as he stood over me after I had got upon my feet!  It was a noble picture, but I soon destroyed it, for I began at once to sink again to the earth.  There was only one thing for him to do, and he did it; he supported me with an arm about my waist.

“Miss Dement, are you ill?” he said.

It was not an exclamation; there was neither alarm nor solicitude in it.  If he had added:  “I suppose that is about what I am expected to say,” he would hardly have expressed his sense of the situation more clearly.  His manner filled me with shame and indignation, for I was suffering acutely.  I wrenched my hand out of his, grasped the arm supporting me and pushing myself free, fell plump into the sand and sat helpless.  My hat had fallen off in the struggle and my hair tumbled about my face and shoulders in the most mortifying way.

“Go away from me,” I cried, half choking.  “O please go away, you—­you Thug!  How dare you think that when my leg is asleep?”

I actually said those identical words!  And then I broke down and sobbed.  Irene, I blubbered!

His manner altered in an instant—­I could see that much through my fingers and hair.  He dropped on one knee beside me, parted the tangle of hair and said in the tenderest way:  “My poor girl, God knows I have not intended to pain you.  How should I?—­I who love you—­I who have loved you for—­for years and years!”

He had pulled my wet hands away from my face and was covering them with kisses.  My cheeks were like two coals, my whole face was flaming and, I think, steaming.  What could I do?  I hid it on his shoulder—­there was no other place.  And, O my dear friend, how my leg tingled and thrilled, and how I wanted to kick!

We sat so for a long time.  He had released one of my hands to pass his arm about me again and I possessed myself of my handkerchief and was drying my eyes and my nose.  I would not look up until that was done; he tried in vain to push me a little away and gaze into my face.  Presently, when all was right, and it had grown a bit dark, I lifted my head, looked him straight in the eyes and smiled my best—­my level best, dear.