She was suddenly serious, serious as well as disappointed.

“You must not,” she declared.  “It is too dangerous.  I will not have you try it.  You must stay here with me.  I am not used to being left alone.  I should be very lonely indeed.  You must please not think of going.”

“Miss Jeanne,” he said quietly, “there are many things which you do not know, and you must let me tell you this, that it is not possible for me to keep you here as my guest until to-morrow.  You cannot leave the island, so I am going to.  I can assure you that it is nothing whatever of a swim, and I shall get to the other side quite easily.  Then I am going down to the village to get some dry clothes, and I shall go up to the Hall and talk to your stepmother.”

“If you make me go back,” she declared, “I shall run away the first time I have an opportunity, and if you will not have me, I dare say I can find some one else who has a room to let, who will.”

“I am not your keeper,” he answered, “but please don’t do anything rash until I tell you what your stepmother says.”

“It is you who are rash,” she declared.  “I do not think that I can let you go.  I am afraid, and the water looks so cruel to-night.”

He laughed as he stepped outside.

“I am going round to leave some orders with Mr. Berners’ servant,” he said, “and after that I am going.  You must ring for anything you want, and the man will show you your room if you want to lie down.  I dare say, though, that some one will come from the Hall presently.  The sea will be calmer in a few hours’ time.”

She walked with him to the edge of the beach.  When he drew off his coat and turned up his sleeves she trembled with anxiety.

“Oh, I am afraid,” she muttered.  “I don’t like your going in.  I don’t like your doing this.  I am sorry that I ever came.”

He laughed a little scornfully, and plunged in.  She watched his head appear and disappear, her heart beating fast all the time.  Once she lost sight of it altogether and screamed.  Almost immediately he came up to the surface again, and turning round waved his hand to her.

“I am all right,” he sang out.  “Going strong.  It’s quite easy.”

A few minutes later she saw him wading, and directly afterwards he stood upon the sands opposite to her.  He waved his hand.  She put her fingers to her lips and threw him a kiss.  He pretended not to notice, and started off toward the village, and her low laugh came floating to him in a momentary lull of the wind.

Half-way across the marshes he changed his course, clambered up a high bank on to the road, and turned toward the Hall.  Barer than ever the great gaunt building seemed to stand out against the sky line, but from every window lights were flashing, and the windows of the dining-room seemed to reflect a perfect blaze of light.  Andrew made his way to the back entrance, and entering unobserved, made his way up to his own room.