ked out seaward. It was even as she had
said. There were indications of another storm. Even while they stood
there the large raindrops fell.

"We had better go in," Andrew said. "It is going to rain again."

She clapped her hands, and danced lightly back into the house. She
subsided into his easy chair and clasped her hands over her head.

"Come and stand there on the hearthrug," she demanded, "and tell me
stories--stories of fishing adventures and storms, and things that have
happened to yourself. Never mind how ordinary they may seem. I want to
hear them. Remember that everything is new to me. Everything is
interesting." He accepted the inevitable at last, and they talked until
the twilight filled the room. It was strange how much and yet how
little she knew. The fascination of her worldly ignorance was a thing
which grew continually upon him. Suddenly she burst into a little peal
of laughter.

"I was wondering," she remarked, "whether they are waiting dinner for
me. I can just imagine how frightened they all are."

"I had forgotten all about them," Andrew confessed. "Wait a moment."

He left the room and walked out on to the beach. The sea was still
dashing its spray high over the roof of the little cottage. The stones
outside were wet to within a few feet of his door. He looked across
toward the mainland. Far away he fancied that he could see men carrying
lanterns like will-o'-the-wisps, in that part of the marshes near the
Hall. He retraced his steps to the sitting-room.

"I am afraid," he said, "that it will not be possible to take you back
to-night. The sea is still too rough for my boat, and shows no sign of
going down."

She clapped her hands.

"I am very glad," she declared frankly. "I would very much rather stay
here than go back. Shall we go and see what there is for dinner? I can
cook quite well. I learnt at the convent, but I have never had a chance
to really try what I can do."

He smiled.

"Well," he said, "you can do exactly what you like with the contents of
my larder, but so far as I am concerned, I must go."

"Go?" she repeated wonderingly. "If I cannot leave the island, surely
you cannot!"

"Yes!" he answered. "There is another way. I am going to swim over to
the mainland and let them know at the Hall where you are."

She was suddenly serious, serious as well as disappointed.

"You must not," she declared. "It is too dangerous. I will not have you
try it. You must stay here with m