"I would follow you secretly."
"You must not say so," said Joshua reprovingly; "it would be very, very wrong."
"To follow any one you loved?" questioned the child, shaking her head at the same time to denote that she had no doubt whether it would be right or wrong. "Wrong to wish to be with any one you loved? It would be wrong not to wish it. But"--and she looked round, as if fearful, although they were alone, lest her resolution should become known--"nobody should know; I would not tell a living soul."
Joshua was silent, puzzled at Minnie's earnestness. Minnie, with the shell at her ear, soon broke the silence, however.
"Has your friend--the boy you have told me about"--
"Dan?"
"Yes, Dan. Has Dan got a shell?"
"No. I don't suppose he ever thought of it."
"And yet he loves you very much, and a shell is the only thing that can bring the sea to him."
"Who gave you the shell, Minnie?"