The terrible words were out, and for one long moment the two women stared into each other’s eyes.

“You think I am insane at times,” whispered Leonie. “You—­Auntie, you think I am insane!”

And the elder woman, floundering in dismay at the awful effect of her unconsidered words, sank to her neck in a bog of explanation.

“No!  Leonie—­no, of course not—­I wasn’t thinking—­of course you’re not mad—­insane I mean.  What an idea! only I am worried about you, you know that, don’t you, dear! Do be sensible, dear.  Of course your brain is not quite normal.  It can’t be with all that sleep-walking, can it, and all your abnormally brilliant exams!”

Susan Hetth’s disjointed remarks sounded like the clatter of a pair of runaway mules, while Leonie clasped her hands tight as she sat crouched on her stool.

“Of course people will talk, you know, dear!  They did when you were quite a baby and began walking in your sleep.  And they did, you know, at school after that unfortunate child nearly got strangled by her sheets—­I always do think that school fare is most indigestible—­and so likely to cause blemishes on the skin!”

Leonie bowed her head.

“Most unfortunate that you should have snubbed young Mr—­what’s-his-name—­so severely—­and that his sister should have been at school with you.  Out of revenge she has been talking about you and your sleep-walking.  People are most unkind and most unjust—­and you are far too pretty to receive any consideration from your own sex, how_ever_ much attention you may receive from the opposition—­I mean sex—­opposite sex, I mean——­”

Leonie sat absolutely still.

“Anyway, my child, we need not worry—­there is a way out of our little difficulties.”

Sensing that something was coming Leonie sat back with the light of the oil lamp full on her face as she stared at the clutter on the mantelpiece.

“I do so want you to do something for me, darling.”

The tone of Susan Hetth’s voice and the touch of her hand on the girl’s arm were as wheedling as if she were about to ask her to tramp into Ilfracombe on some trifling midnight errand.

Leonie answered quite mechanically.

“What is it, dear!” she said.  “Say the word and I’ll do it!”

“Is that a promise?”

“Ra-ther!  Anything to please you, Auntiekins!”

Susan Hetth took her fence in a rush!

“I want you to get married,” she said abruptly out of pure fright, and wrenched at her bead chain when Leonie leapt to her feet.

The girl stood quite still, outlined in her simple low-cut, short-sleeved dress by the wall, her hands pressed back against it.

There was no sound except the soft gurgle and murmur of the water until she spoke, quietly, but with a world of horror in her low-pitched voice.