The brightness of the sunset was flooding the waters before either of them looked up again. Then Mellen said:
"Those careless creatures ought to come back; it grows chilly on the water as evening comes on, and the least thing gives Elsie cold."
Elizabeth shaded her eyes with her hand and looked over the bay.
"They are coming," she said; "I can see them."
Mellen looked in the direction to which she pointed, and saw the boat rounding a point of land and making swiftly up the bay.
"Tom is as strong as a young Hercules," he said, watching the little skiff as it fairly flew through the water under the impulse of that powerful arm, and aided by the inward rush of the tide.
They remained watching it till it approached near enough for them to distinguish Elsie's white wrappings. Suddenly Mellen said:
"She is rocking the boat dreadfully! She is standing up—The girl is crazy to run such risks!"
Elizabeth looked and saw Elsie erect in the skiff, her shawl floating around her, rocking the boat to and fro with reckless force, while she could see by Tom's gestures that he was vainly expostulating with her upon her imprudence.
Mellen went into the hall and out on the veranda, with some vague idea of trying to attract the imprudent girl's attention by signals; but the skiff was far off, and Elsie too much occupied to observe them.