ThetwoshadowyfiguresseenthroughthegreygauzesofthemorningbyRuth，fivehoursbeforethistime，hadgoneontotheopenplacebythenorthentranceofSylvaniaCastle，wherethelanetotheruinsoftheoldcastlebranchedoff。Alistenerwouldnothavegatheredthatasinglewordpassedbetweenthem。Themanwalkedwithdifficulty，supportedbythewoman。Atthisspottheystoppedandkissedeachotheralongwhile。
’WeoughttowalkallthewaytoBudmouth，ifwewishnottobediscovered，’hesaidsadly。’AndIcan’tevengetacrosstheisland，evenbyyourhelp，darling。Itistwomilestothefootofthehill。’
She，whowastrembling，triedtospeakconsolingly：
’IfyoucouldwalkweshouldhavetogodowntheStreetofWells，whereperhapssomebodywouldknowme？NowifwegetbelowheretotheCove，can’twepushoffoneofthelittleboatsIsawtherelastnight，andpaddlealongclosetotheshoretillwegettothenorthside？Thenwecanwalkacrosstothestationverywell。Itisquitecalm，andasthetidesetsinthatdirection，itwilltakeusalongofitself，withoutmuchrowing。I’veoftengotroundinaboatthatway。’
Thisseemedtobetheonlyplanthatoffered，andabandoningthestraightroadtheywounddownthedefilespannedfurtheronbytheoldcastlearch，andformingtheoriginalfosseofthefortress。