The Broad Highway

Over the uplands, to my left, the moon was peeping at me, very

broad and yellow, as yet, casting long shadows athwart my way.

The air was heavy with the perfume of honeysuckle abloom in the

hedges--a warm, still air wherein a deep silence brooded, and in

which leaf fluttered not and twig stirred not; but it was none of

this I held in my thoughts as I strode along, whistling softly as

I went. Yet, in a while, chancing to lift my eyes, I beheld the

object of my reverie coming towards me through the shadows.

"Why--Charmian!" said I, uncovering my head.

"Why--Peter!"

"Did you come to meet me?"

"It must be nearly nine o'clock, sir."

"Yes, I had to finish some work."

"Did any one pass you on the road?"

"Not a soul."

"Peter, have you an enemy?"

"Not that I know of, unless it be myself. Epictetus says

somewhere that--"

"Oh, Peter, how dreadfully quiet everything is!" said she, and

shivered.

"Are you cold?"

"No--but it is so dreadfully--still."

Now in one place the lane, narrowing suddenly, led between high

banks crowned with bushes, so that it was very dark there. As we

entered this gloom Charmian suddenly drew closer to my side and

slipped her hand beneath my arm and into my clasp, and the touch

of her fingers was like ice.

"Your hand is very cold!" said I. But she only laughed, yet I

felt her shiver as she pressed herself close against me.

And now it was she who talked and I who walked in silence, or

answered at random, for I was conscious only of the clasp of her

fingers and the soft pressure of hip and shoulder.

So we passed through this place of shadows, walking neither fast

nor slow, and ever her cold fingers clasped my fingers, and her

shoulder pressed my arm while she talked, and laughed, but of

what, I know not, until we had left the dark place behind. Then

she sighed deeply and turned, and drew her arm from mine, almost

sharply, and stood looking back, with her two hands pressed upon

her bosom.

"What is it?"

"Look!" she whispered, pointing, "there--where it is darkest

--look!" Now, following the direction of her finger, I saw

something that skulked amid the shadows something that slunk

away, and vanished as I watched.

"A man!" I exclaimed, and would have started in pursuit, but

Charmian's hands were upon my arm, strong and compelling.