"But that won't be for years."
"Oh yes, it will. You can join the Navy at any age. They ship you on as a cabin-boy, or sometimes as the Captain's servant; and papa says that for the first cruise Uncle Harry's wife will look after me."
"But"—Ruth opened beautiful eyes of astonishment. "Your Uncle Harry is not married? Why, more than once you have told me that you would never take a wife when you grew up, but be like your uncle and live only for sailing a ship and fighting."
"He is, though. It happened at Carolina, whilst the Venus was refitting; and I believe her father is Governor there, or something of the sort, but I didn't read that part of the letter very carefully. There was a lot of silly talk in it, quite different from the fighting. I remember, though, he said he was coming around here for his honeymoon; and I'm glad, on the whole."
"On the whole? When you've dreamed, all this while, of seeing your uncle and growing up to be like him!"
"I mean that on the whole I'm glad he is married. It—it shows the two things can go together after all; and, Ruth—"
She turned in some wonderment as his voice faltered, and wondered more at sight of his young face. It was crimson.
"No, please! I want you not to look," he entreated. "I want you to turn your face away and listen . . . Ruth," he blurted, "I love you better than anybody in the whole world!"
"Dear Dicky!"
"—and I think you're the loveliest person that ever was—besides being the best."