“O darling Dick, don’t,” said Susie imploringly.  “Perhaps mother will come to the shore and see us, or perhaps the twins will tell her, or perhaps the fishermen will bring a boat.”

“I shall weep,” repeated Dick firmly.  After that he did not speak again, but he put his two chubby arms so tightly round her neck that he nearly choked her.  “I won’t let you go,” he said sleepily.

Susie felt in despair.  “I must go, Dick.  I don’t see what else I can do.”

“You said yourself”—­Dick’s voice was sleepier, and he nestled closer—­“you said yourself that God would take care of us and the goats.”

Dick was so determined that Susie was afraid to try to get away.  She was sure that he would insist on coming too, and that she would never be able to do that terrible scramble again.  Susie’s active brain flashed from point to point in a moment of time, and it seemed to her that there was, after all, nothing particular to be gained by going down on to the rocks.  No one could see her through the mist and darkness, and her feeble voice would never be heard through the wind.  Dick was almost asleep, and the ledge was sheltered. If she could get him to sleep!  She rolled him out of her arms, keeping her arm as a pillow under his head.  Then with her free hand she unfastened her serge skirt and tucked it round him.  When he coughed, she slipped off her flannel petticoat and wrapped it round his head and throat, and almost before he had shut his eyes she heard his even breathing.

“O darling Dick!” said Susie, under her breath.

She crept as near to him as she could, sheltering him in the crevice of the cliff.  Her one flimsy petticoat was soaked, and her legs felt like ice; but those little choking snores filled her with a joy almost too great for words.

The rain beat in her face and flicked her wet hair against it like the lash of a whip; but Susie felt nothing except the warm comfort of the little body behind her, saw nothing but the gleaming row of lights that marked the Parade.  All her heart moved in one passionate cry, “If mother will only forgive me!” And then she realized, with a glow of happiness, that she had never really doubted it; that she had known quite well all the time that there would be no need for tears or protestations—­mother would understand.

The stars came out and the leaping waves seemed to fall asleep, whilst Susie, with wide-awake eyes, settled herself for the interminable night.  But nature is very kind to the remorseful sinner as well as to the happy and the innocent, and presently her head fell back against Dick’s comfortable, cosy shoulder, and she too fell into a dreamless sleep.

CHAPTER IX.