Out of her sphere - University Library

HAROLD THORNTON'S RETURN HOME. 39
and smirched with sea-weed, and with
rubbing against stones. She felt in the
different pockets—every paper was wet
but there was nothing to throw any Hght
on the transactions of the last few hours.
She looked at the sleeper ;
he was breath-
ing heavily, his head thrown back, his hair
in disorder on the pillow ;
he was pale, too
—fearfully pale—and there was that strange
gash on the temple.
Clare thought awhile, her own face paling
as she did so ; then she gathered together
the clothes Mr. Thornton had thrown off,
and took them into her own room. After
that she went down to Deb.
" Mr. Thornton is asleep, and I should n't
like to wake him ; I opened the door and
listened, but he never heard me. Poor
man !
he seems thoroughly tired out. Do
you go to bed. Deb, and I '11 sit up. I 've a
letter to write, and a bonnet to trim, so
there's no fear of my falling asleep. I dare
;