His crime might, even yet, be only
a crime in intent; and, if so, I could prevent it easily enough. My
first business was to hurry to the church, and, if not yet too late,
keep guard over the tomb. But to achieve this I must get quit of
Winifred without a moment's delay. Now Winifred's most direct path to
the cottage was the path I myself must take to the church, the
gangway behind Flinty Point. Yet _she_ must not pass the church with
me, lest an encounter with her father should take place. There was
thus but one course open. I must induce her to take the gangway
behind the other point of the cove; and how was this to be compassed?
That was what I was racking my brain about.
'Winifred,' I said at last, as we sat and looked at the sea, 'I begin
to fear we must be moving.'
She started up, vexed that the hint to move had come from me.
'The fact is,' I said, 'I particularly want to go into the old
church.'
'Into the old church to-night?' said Winifred, with a look of
astonishment and alarm that I could not understand.
'Yes; something was left undone there this afternoon at the funeral,
and I must go at once.
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