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Manella was silent The low chirping of a cicada hidden in the myrtle thicket made monotonous sweetness on the stillness

Moved by some sudden instinct which he did not attempt to explain to himself, Gwent decided to venture on a little paternal advice

"Now don't you fly off in a rage at what I'an, slowly--"You're only a child toto you as a child Don't give too od' He's no erous custoht eyes opened wide like stars in the darkness

"Dangerous?--How?--I do not understand---!"

"Dangerous!"--repeated Gwent, shaking his head at her--"Not to you, perhaps,--for you probably wouldn'tas he kissed you first! Oh, yes, I know the ways of wo animals, ready to slave all their lives for the sake of a caress YOU are one of that kind--you'd willingly make a door-mat of yourself for Seaton to wipe his boots on I don't ht think hierous to himself--likely to run risks of his life---"

Here he paused, checked by the sudden terror in the beautiful eyes that stared at him

"His life!" and Manella's voice trembled--"You think he is here to kill himself---"

"No, no--bless my soul, he doesn't INTEND to kill himself"--said Gwent, testily--"He's not such a fool as all that! Now look here!--try and be a sensible girl! The ht do him harm--I don't say it WILL--but it MIGHT You've heard of boiven moment?"

Manella nodded--her lips trembled, and she clasped her hands nervously across her bosom

"Well!--I believe--I won't say it for certain,--that he's got so worse than that!" said Gwent, impressively--"And that's why he was chosen to live up on that hill in the 'hut of the dying' away fro h, and is not the sort of man to involve any other man in trouble--and that's why he stays alone Now you know! So you can put away your ro for hiht draw him away from his present occupation In fact, the best that could happen to him would be that you should make him fall in love with YOU!"