cond bundle has my clothes
in it."

"Your clothes, Brown-Eyes! Why have you brought clothes?"

"I'm going with Neal, of course."

Neal sat upright suddenly and stared at her with a new expression in his
eyes. He was the prey of sheer astonishment, then of a rapture which set
his heart beating tumultuously.

"You are going with Neal! Nonsense, Brown-Eyes. How can you?"

"I've money to pay my passage," she said, "and if I hadn't I'd go just
the same. I shall climb up into the brig, and I won't be turned out of
her."

"You can't," said Maurice.

"Oh, but I can, and I will. Do you think you and father are the only two
in the family that have wills of your own. You'll take me, Neal, won't
you? We'll be married as soon as ever we get to America. I'm like the
girl in the song--

"'I'll dye my petticoat, I'll dye it red,
And through the world I'll beg my bread,'
but I won't leave you now, Neal."

She began to sing merrily, exultingly--

"Though father and brother and a' should go mad,
Just whistle and I'll come to you, my lad."

"Well," said Maurice, "if you go I may as well take my passage, too. I
daren't go home and face my lord with the news that you've run off from
him. But steady, Brown-Eyes, watch what you're doing. We're close on
the brig now. We'll neither go to America nor back home if you upset us
now."

He took in the sprit of the sail as Una rounded the boat under the
brig's stern. A rope was flung to them and made fast. Another rope, a
stouter one, was lowered to Neal. Una seized it and climbed up. Willing
hands caught her, lifted her over the bulwarks, and set her on the deck.

"Am I to ferry you across, too, young lady?" asked Captain Getty.

"Yes," said Una, "I am going with you."

Neal leaned across the thwarts of the boat to Maurice.

"Stay you here," he said, "leave this to me."

He gained the deck of the brig. Una met him with outstretched hands and
sparkling eyes.

"Isn't this glorious?" she said. "You never guessed, Neal. Confess that
you never guessed."

Then she shrank back from him, frightened by what she saw. His face was
ashy grey, save for two flaming spots on his cheek bones. His lips
were trembling. His eyes told her of some desperate resolution, of some
counsel adopted with intense pain.

"What is the matter, Neal! Do you not want me after all? Will you not
take me?"

"No, I will not take you."

It was all he succeeded in saying before a sob