The place was a remote spot far up the shore . Katherine had taken off her shoes and stockings , tucked up her skirt , rolled her sleeves high above her dimpled elbows , and was deep in the absorbing process of fishing up seaweeds off a craggy headland . She looked anything but dignified while so employed , but under the circumstances dignity did not matter . Presently she heard a shout from the shore and , turning around in dismay , she beheld a man on the rocks behind her . He was evidently shouting at her . What on earth could the creature want ? `` Come in , '' he called , gesticulating wildly . `` You 'll be in the bottomless pit in another moment if you do n't look out . '' `` He certainly must be a lunatic , '' said Katherine to herself , `` or else he 's drunk . What am I to do ? '' `` Come in , I tell you , '' insisted the stranger . `` What in the world do you mean by wading out to such a place ? Why , it 's madness . '' Katherine 's indignation got the better of her fear . `` I do not think I am trespassing , '' she called back as icily as possible . The stranger did not seem to be snubbed at all . He came down to the very edge of the rocks where Katherine could see him plainly . He was dressed in a somewhat well-worn grey suit and wore spectacles . He did not look like a lunatic , and he did not seem to be drunk . `` I implore you to come in , '' he said earnestly .
`` You must be standing XXXXX the very brink of the bottomless pit . ''
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