She was to pass by the Cuttle Well, on her way to Tilliedrum, where she would get the London train, he had been told coldly, and he could be there at the time—­if he liked.  The time was seven o’clock in the evening on a week-day, when the lovers are not in the Den, and Tommy arrived first.  When he stole through the small field that separates Monypenny from the Den, his decision was—­but on reaching the Cuttle Well, its nearness to the uncanny Lair chilled his courage, and now he had only come to bid her good-by.  She was very late, and it suddenly struck him that she had already set off.  “After getting me to promise to go wi’ her!” he said to himself at once.

But Grizel came; she was only late because it had taken her such a long time to say good-by to the girl in the glass.  She was wearing her black dress and lustre jacket, and carried in a bundle the few treasures she was taking with her, and though she did not ask Tommy if he was coming, she cast a quick look round to see if he had a bundle anywhere, and he had none.  That told her his decision, and she would have liked to sit down for a minute and cry, but of course she had too much pride, and she bade him farewell so promptly that he thought he had a grievance.  “I’m coming as far as the toll-house wi’ you,” he said, sulkily, and so they started together.

At the toll-house Grizel stopped.  “It’s a fine night,” said Tommy, almost apologetically, “I’ll go as far as the quarry o’ Benshee.”

When they came to the quarry he said, “We’re no half-roads yet, I’ll go wi’ you as far as Padanarum.”  Now she began to wonder and to glance at him sideways, which made him more uncomfortable than ever.  To prevent her asking him a question for which he had no answer, he said, “What makes you look so little the day?”

“I am not looking little,” she replied, greatly annoyed, “I am looking taller than usual.  I have let down my frock three inches so as to look taller—­and older.”

“You look younger than ever,” he said cruelly.

“I don’t!  I look fifteen, and when you are fifteen you grow up very quickly.  Do say I look older!” she entreated anxiously.  “It would make me feel more respectable.”

But he shook his head with surprising obstinacy, and then she began to remark on his clothes, which had been exercising her curiosity ever since they left the Den.

“How is it that you are looking so stout?” she asked.

“I feel cold, but you are wiping the sweat off your face every minute.”

It was true, but he would have preferred not to answer.  Grizel’s questions, however, were all so straight in the face, that there was no dodging them.  “I have on twa suits o’ clothes, and a’ my sarks,” he had to admit, sticky and sullen.

She stopped, but he trudged on doggedly.  She ran after him and gave his arm an impulsive squeeze with both hands, “Oh, you sweet!” she said.

“No, I’m not,” he answered in alarm.