she hated him, she
nestled against his side, and his arm enfolded her.

Joel had not the outward seeming of a wise man; nevertheless he now said:

"The other girls will all be envying you. To be married so quickly, and
carried away the very next day...." Her sobs miraculously ceased, and he
smiled quietly down upon her dark head against his breast. "Every one
will do things for you.... The whole town.... They will come down to see
us sail away."

He fell silent, leaving his words for her consideration. She remained
very quiet against his side for a long time, breathing very softly. He
thought he could almost read her thoughts....

"It will be," he said, "like a story. Like a romance." And the word
sounded strangely on his sober lips.

But at the word, the girl sat up quickly, both hands gripping his arm. He
could see her eyes dancing in the moonlight.... "Oh, Joe," she cried, "it
would really be just loads of fun. And terribly romantic.... Wonderful!"
She pressed a hand to her cheek, thinking: "And I could...."

She could, she said, do thus and so....

Joel listened, and he smiled. For he knew that his bride would sail away
with him.

IV

In the few days that remained before the _Nathan Ross_ was to sail, there
was no time for remodeling her cabin to accommodate Priscilla; so that
was left for the first weeks of the cruise. There were matters enough,
without it, to occupy those last days. Little Priss was caught up like a
leaf in the wind; she was whirled this way and that in a pleasant and
heart-stirring confusion. And through it all, her laughter rang in the
air like the sound of bells. To Joel, Sunday night, she said: "Oh, Joe
... it's been an awful rush. But it's been such fun.... And I never was
so happy in my life."

And Joel smiled, and said quietly: "Yes--with happier times to come."

She looked up at him wistfully. "You'll be good to me, won't you, Joel?"
He patted her shoulder.

They were married in the big old white church, and every pew was filled.
Afterwards they all went down to the piers, where Asa Worthen had spread
long tables and loaded them so that they groaned. Alongside lay the
_Nathan Ross_, her decks littered with the last confusion of preparation.
Joel showed Priscilla the lumber for the cabin alterations, ranked along
the rail beneath the boathouse; and she gripped his arm tight with both
hands. Afterwards, he took Priscilla up the hill to the great House of
Shore. Rachel