"Good-bye. It will be better that we should not meet again--not yet."
He took the hand gravely, let his own close over it in a firm, warm
clasp, and released it silently.
"Mary."
Claude turned to go, and her cousin went to her side white as ashes.
Glyddyr stood looking from one to the other, as if hesitating what to
do.
"Claude, do you hear me," whispered Mary.
"Mr Glyddyr, are you going this way?" said Claude in a low deep voice.
"Yes, of course," he cried, with his face lighting up, and darting a
look of triumph at his rival, who stood motionless, with one hand
resting upon his rod as though it were a spear, he went on down the glen
by Claude's side.
"Mr Lisle--Chris--do you not hear? Good-bye."
Chris started back as it were into life, and saw that Mary had run back
and laid her hand in his.
"Ah, little woman," he said, with a gentle, pitying tone in his voice,
"I was thinking, I suppose. Good-bye, Mary, and don't fall in love,
dear; it's a mistake."
"Chris," she cried, with the tears in her beautiful eyes, as she gazed
at the broad-shouldered sturdy fellow, "why do you talk like that?"
"Why do I talk like that?" he said bitterly. "Because I am a weak fool,
I suppose. Look there."
He pointed down the glen.
"Chris!"
"There, run after them, and play propriety, little lady," he said
bitterly. "Or no--they do not miss you; better stop behind, or shall I
see you home?"
"Chris, dear Chris," she whispered.
"Don't talk to me," he cried. "I'm half mad. Good-bye, Mary,
good-bye."
He turned sharply and hurried away up the glen, and as Mary watched, she
heard his reel begin to sing as he walked on down by the stream, making
casts blindly among the boulders.
"Poor fellow," she said, as she turned and walked swiftly away. "I wish
I had not said a word."
She gave one more glance back and hurried after the retreating pair.
Had she looked long enough she would have seen Chris Lisle stride into
the first clump of trees and throw himself down with his face buried in
his arms, and there he was lying still long after darkness had come on,
and the stars were peering down and glistening in the rushing stream.
Volume Three, Chapter VII.