hotel door whither Biddy had conducted her, Sco

n! Or else the time flies here. Eustace is still skating.

mountain-road that wound up beyond the hot

f time," said

stand her. They turned side by

the road ascended steeply through a pine-wood, dark and mysterious as an

instantly his sister laid

am sure he is just round the

tence. "I heard that whistle too," h

ung Swiss lad who went by them with a smile and sal

ght nor left; her eyes perpetually strained forward as though they sought for something just beyond their range of vision. For a

hink we must turn

say that when-" There came a break i

ty in keeping up with her, but he made no prote

d under her elbow. As they neared the edge of the pines it became evident that the road dwindled to a mere mou

after all," she said, and turned to her brother with eyes

ly through his arm. "We wi

I only had the strength to go on and on and on!"

y," he answered with grave

d of the stream rose like fairy music from an unseen

made no remonstrance. They stood togeth

place must be in s

hiver. "It is like

very soon rise ag

yes. "You are always talking o

m often thinking of it,"

ace. "But that implies-death,"

d with a child. "Do you think it is more than a step fur

" she protested piteously.

y. "None of us can go backwards. Yesterday is but a ste

back!" she cried. "Oh, to go back! Why should we be

al law," said Scott.

It is cruel!

re is Death in the world we must go

eyes upon him. "And

lives solely for the sake of that, because they know that if they only keep on, the Resurrection will give back to them all that they have lost. My dear, it is not going b

, but after a moment gave him her hand with a shad

road brought them wit

nce. "Here is Eustac

o her face came a curious, veiled e

m, Stumpy!" sh

t, d

. He-he wouldn't understand. And-and-you know-I must look

e enjoying ourselves?"

everish earnestness. "Y

, you are good, you can

pray sometimes-tha

ed, Isabel," he answered, "so that you m

e. "Don't pray for the impossible, Stumpy!"

impossible?

d sent a cheery holloa down to his brother who waved a

e held out both hands to Isabel as he drew near. She pulled hersel

I'm glad you've been for a walk. But you might have

lot of people," said Isa

e so many stra

too long. It's time you came out of your shell. I shan'

o protest. Only she looked away over the sparkling world of w

garette-case, and han

hday present t

le. "Very nice! Did you think

dreary listlessness.

frowned slightly and gave t

garette!"

ently, and Scot

on with the lady

half-malicious. "If it comes to that, how

d Scott. "Her name is Di

e, if you ca

ustace. "And who

s brother. I forget which. T

b-nosed person feels somewhat i

wits to make up for it. She seems to fin

kate a bit,"

ve her a hint or two. I am su

e tell

you what she told me.

hand now and then if she's amusing, and doesn't become a nuisance. I'm not

ly place," o

g to ski this afternoo

ab

he was walking between them as one in a dr

rather cold, isn't it? I-I am not sur

expects to sleep here," he said lightly. "You skate

a little. "I-d

?" said

en I dance," she said, in her deep voice, "you may put me un

illy!" he s

t intervened. "Isabel and I prefer to look on," he said, drawing

iness, and for a few electric seconds there was undoubted tension between

. "Oh, go your own way! It's all one to me. You'r

a sign of perturbation. Save for a certain steeliness in his

talk in a general strain of their journey of the previous day. Had Is

he had not displayed during the whole walk. Her eyes

t if you would,

y go," he said. "I sho

nce of half-reluctant approval towards his brother. He plain

he said. "Enjoy yourse

tted across her tired fa

the hotel, she pressed Scott's