Chapter 46

The horizon was all flushed with it ... great bands of gold and flame , stretching as far as the eye could see , and overhead a limpid green rather like that seen in Egyptian skies .

Jerry McGurtrie realized that he was not alone ; a girl was standing with her back to him staring across at the sunset - a young , slender girl with dark hair blown about by the wind , shoes with heels much too high for her , and a dress of the softest crêpe de Chine trimmed with fur . He trod very gently until he was only a few feet away from her . ' Hello , Big Eyes ! ' he said .

The girl whipped round and he found himself gazing into the same large scared grey eyes as on that occasion when she had caught him enjoying a stolen meal in her aunt's dining - room in Fakenham Road . ' It's - not - you ? ' she gasped in a failing voice , her and flying instinctively up to her mouth , and going so pale that he took a quick step forward and slid an arm about her waist . ' I say , hold hard , y