of interest, although I, who looked in the
direction toward which his eyes were turned, could see nothing.

"I reckon ther'll be some work to-night, Jasper, my sonny," he remarked,
after looking steadily a long time. "It do come dark early thaise
November days, an' it'll be a baisly muggy night to-night, tha's wot
't'll be. I must go down to the cove and zee the booys."

When he was gone Tamsin came to me.

"What are you so stand-offish for?" she asked.

I did not reply, for my heart was sad.

"And what did you think of the talk between father and the men last
night?" she asked.

"What do you know about it?" I asked.

"I know you were listening," she replied; "but never mind, it's all safe
with me; and, Jasper, you mustn't think that I care about Israel
Barnicoat, I don't like un a bit."

"He's the strongest man in your father's gang," I said.

"No, Jasper, he's no man at all when you are near. How could I look on
Israel Barnicoat now I've seen you?" She said this with a sob, and then
I knew that Tamsin Truscott loved me. She caught my great brown hand
and kissed it. "Jasper," she cried, "I know where father keeps his
money, love me, and I will get it for you; more than enough to buy back
Pennington. No one knows how rich father is. I know, I know!"

The maid spoke like one demented, and, for the moment, I knew not how to
answer her. Not that I despised her for saying what always ought to be
said by the man, for I believe that her heart was as clean as a
wind-swept sky. For a moment, too, wild, unnatural thoughts came into my
mind which I will not here set down. But even as they came the picture
of Naomi's face came before me, and they departed with the swiftness of
lightning. For I have found this to be true: a true love ever destroys
baser and poorer loves. Let a man love truly a true, pure woman, and all
womanhood is sacred to him. And because I loved Naomi truly no other
love could come into my life.

So I did not reply to Tamsin's words, but walked away toward the cove
instead. Still her words had their effect--they determined me to leave
Cap'n Jack's gang as soon as possible. I saw now that it would be wrong
to stay at Kynance Cove, wrong to Tamsin, wrong to myself. It would be
unworthy of my love for Naomi. For two months I had not realised what
lay before me, now I understood. How could I go to her with words of
love upon my lips, when I sought to win back the home of my fathers by
such means as Cap