The Rocks of Valpré
happy that day-the first and foremost of these being the long-anticipated adventure that lay before her; the second that her two young brothers had improved so g
but that he was reserving to himself the pleasure of offering it in person when they should meet again, which happy event would, he believed, take place at no distant date. In fact, Chris might see him a
to dwell upon unwelcome things, and Jack had, moreover, made the prospect attractive by the suggestion that they might possibly spend two or thr
iselle had packed for her picnic-poor Mademoiselle, who could not understand how any demoiselle could prefer to eat her food upon the beach. In fact, Chris
here would be enough. She even told herself privately that it would be the best
of a familiar white figure awaiting them there. He came to meet
od wishes?" he said, a
horribly old. Do you know I'm seventeen?
hear it," h
ext year yet. Have you
want any help, thank yo
ly, ready to give his hand at a moment's notice. But Chris was very sure-footed,
o drink," she remarked presen
ttermost. He had not forgotten the lantern. It was waiting by the Magic
ture without delay. Should they not explore first and have tea after?
under the cliffs, she found a surprise in s
lat-topped rock, and on this were set a lar
!" ejacul
" exclaimed t
ands, "it's not a bit of good doing that. It doesn't deceive me in the least. I know you did it, and you're a perfect dear, and it was sweet of you to think of it. It's the best
e produced cups, saucers, plates, knives,
on. "What a mercy the gulls didn't seize it w
erform that ceremon
ly. What lovely sweets! Did they come out of the Magic C
of Paradise would like
she is inclined to be rather greedy. Please take the kettle off. It's spluttering. You must ma
e couldn't scramble over such a cake as that. And the rain came down in a sharp
lls as she entered, and she turned with a slightly startled
ns of the feast. "Quick!" she cal
called back, and in a few
said. "You a
his look of inquiry. "But it's h
r. Cinders was obviously exploring on his own account,
, her misgivings diverted into another cha
ight dress, but turne
ck to catch her mood. "I will go to f
me!" said C
Let us rem
Cinders!"
lders, then stooped without fur
sea and pattering heavily upon the shingle. The waves b
of the cave, shivered again. Someho
wound between rugged cliff-walls into darkness. The rock gleamed black and shiny o
ng seemed to catch the whisper and repeat it sibilan
t so narrow in a moment. If you look behind you, you will see t
er. She looked and admired, though the sea
soon," he said. "See! It
spoke, though his glance fell
here often?
y often,
t do you
how you b
. "Then we won't go any farth
ment. The darkness had swallowed Cinders as completely
id Chris, a quiver of
will find him," Be
y close to him, especially when a curve in the passage hid the e
widened. They emerged into a cave o
announced Bertran
en; Cinders was n
rock was unlike anything she had ever seen before. The
often!" she said
pointed to a crevice just above his h
ree hand, and drew forward something that gave back dully the flare o
y black arts," he said, "and my future." He pushed it back
mystery, but before she could begin to utter them a long and piteous
she cried. "Th
s still echoing all about them. "Oh, isn't it d
to reassure her. "He is only
naturally as a child. Her chin was quivering, and her voic
ere we are because of
hey say that it was made by the contrabandists, but it leads to nowhere; it has b
ave in which they had been standing. Bertrand went firs
p-a pathetic yelping considerably farther away than it had been before. The unlucky wanderer se
is in tears. "I've never hea
ge, little one! We may find him at any moment. Will you then wait while I s
me!" entreated Chris.
e two passages. If I do not find him in the one,
said Chris, with a gulp. "If I am only g
o-" he
it. I will wait for you here, if you think i
ise," h
rged, drawing her hand from h
m her with the light, she covered her face and trembled. I
they died away at last and she stood alone in the utter, vault-l
then something moved with a small rustling. It might have been a lizard, a crab, or even a bat. But Chris thought of snakes and stiffened to rigidity, scarcely daring to breathe. The ro
ate courage she kept herself from panic. Cinders might run against her at any moment-at any moment. And even if not, ev
I am so frightened. Do br
t was a brave little tune; she knew not whence it came till it suddenly flashed upon her that she had heard it on Bertrand's l
l suddenly in the middle of a bar there came the rush and patter of feet, a yelp of sheer, exube