He stayed on the last step, regarding her.
Then she turned her face sea-wards and he saw her profile.
Another moment and he stood above her.
"Ruth," he said.
She looked up at him.
"O, it's you, Ernie!" she answered quite simply, and without a thought of coquetry.
His heart moved within him.
"That's a little better!" he muttered, and proceeded to sit down beside her.
She made room for him, friendly and entirely unconscious.
They began to talk, and once she glanced at him from under her hat with tranquil eyes that seemed to pour their soft light into his.