"But he shall not have me," she suddenly cried, with great vehemence."The sea is there"--she pointed over the edge of the cliff--"andthe sea shall have me rather than Jubal."

"But I always have you now Dian," I cried; "nor shall Jubal, nor any otherhave you, for you are mine," and I seized her arm, nor did I liftit above her head and let it fall in token of release.

She had risen to her feet, and was looking straight into my eyeswith level gaze.

"I do not believe you," she said, "for if you meant it you wouldhave done this when the others were present to witness it--then Ishould truly have been your mate; now there is no one to see youdo it, for you know that without witnesses your act does not bindyou to me," and she withdrew her hand from mine and turned away.