There was a long pause, but at last she rose and said, “Mr. Barton, I have felt that something of this sort might happen, but I have never thought it out, as you say you have.  I am confused now it has come, just as if I had never feared it beforehand.  I was very, very happy, and I would not think of what might come of it.  I might have known that a grand gentleman like you would never live with the like of me; but then I thought I loved you very, very dearly; you seemed so bright, and grand, and tender, that I loved you in spite of all I was afraid of, and I thought if you loved me you might perhaps be—­” Here she broke down altogether, and burst into sobs, and seemed as though she would fall.  He rose and threw his arms round her, led her back to the rock, called her all the sweet names he could think of, kissed her again and again, and tried to soothe her; while she, poor thing, could do nothing but sob, with her head upon his shoulder.

A loud shout aroused them.  They both rose suddenly, and turned their faces towards the place whence the sound proceeded.  Hawkstone was just emerging from the surf, which was lashing furiously against the corner of the cliff, round which they had come dry-shod a short time before, They at once guessed their fate, and glanced in dismay at one another and then at the sea, and again at Hawkstone, who rapidly approached them, drenched through and through, and in a fierce state of wrath and terror, added to the excitement of his struggle with the waves.

“What are you doing here?” he cried, and in the same breath, “Don’t answer—­don’t dare to answer, but listen.  You are caught by the tide.  I have sent a boy back to Babbicombe for help.  No help can come by sea in such a storm.  They will bring a basket and ropes by the cliff.  It will be a race between them and the tide.  If all goes well, they will be here in time.  If not, we shall all be drowned.”

“Is there no way up the cliff?” said Barton.

“None.  The cliff overhangs.  There is a place where I have just come through, but I doubt if I could reach it again; and I am sure neither of you could stand the surf.  You must wait.”  He then turned from them, and sat himself down on a fallen piece of the cliff, and buried his face in his hands.  Nellie sank down on the rock where she and Barton had been sitting, and he stood by her, helplessly gazing alternately with a pale face and bewildered mind at his two companions.  Two or three minutes passed without any motion or sound from the living occupants of the bay; but the roaring of the sea grew louder and louder, and the terror of it sank into the hearts of all three.  At last Hawkstone raised his head, and immediately Barton approached him.

“Forgive me, Hawkstone,” he said, “I have done you a great wrong, and I am sorry for it.”

“What’s the good in saying that?  You can’t mend the wrong you have done,” and his head sank down again between his hands.