“Come, darling, don’t tremble; have you got much more?”

“Oh, yes, several things.”

“Look at that, now!  But, dear heart, I was the same at your age, and should be now, like enough.  Fetch them all, as quick as you like.  I am feared to leave Blackbird, or I’d help you down with ’em.”

“Is there nobody with you to take care of us?”

“What do you mean—­men folk?  Not if I know it.”

“You are right.  You are wise.  Oh, how courageous!” And she went back for her finery.  And certain it is she had more baggage than I should choose for a forced march.

But all has an end—­even a female luggage train; so at last she put out all her lights and came down, stepping like a fairy, with a large basket in her hand.

Now it happened that by this time the moon’s position was changed, and only a part of David lay in the shade; his head and shoulders glittered in broad moonlight; and Lucy, taking her farewell of a house where she had spent many happy days, cast her eyes all around to bid good-by, and spied a man lying within a few paces, and looking like a corpse in the silver sheen.  She dropped her basket; her knees knocked together with fear, and she flew toward Mrs. Wilson.  But she did not go far, for the features, indistinct as they were by distance and pale light, struck her mind, and she stopped and looked timidly over her shoulder.  The figure never moved.  Then, with beating heart, she went toward him slowly and so stealthily that she would have passed a mouse without disturbing it, and presently she stood by him and looked down on him as he lay.

And as she looked at him lying there, so pale, so uncomplaining, so placid, under her windows, this silent proof of love, and the thought of the raging sea this helpless form had steered her through, and all he had suffered as well as acted for her, made her bosom heave, and stirred all that was woman within her.  He loved her still, then, or why was he here?  And then the thought that she had done something for him too warmed her heart still more toward him.  And there was nothing for her to repel now, for he lay motionless; there was nothing for her to escape—­he did not pursue her; nothing to negative—­he did not propose anything to her.  Her instinct of defense had nothing to lay hold of; so, womanlike, she had a strong impulse to wake him and be kind to him—­as kind as she could be without committing herself.  But, on the other hand, there was shy, trembling, virgin modesty, and shame that he should detect her making a midnight evasion, and fear of letting him think she loved him.