"Pardon me, Clover. It is too bad; but we will be inside in a minute. Sorry we had to be cut short in our career."
"Never mind, we've sailed while we sailed,—not dawdled along."
"And you will come with me again soon, I hope."
White-crested billows pursued them to the narrow opening in the breakwater, as, wind-buffeted, the little craft entered the harbor.
When they landed, Jack left the boat-house janitor to take down his sails, Clover put on her hat, and they walked up to the road together.
"All this time and not a word of congratulation," began Jack gayly, as they started toward home.
Clover met his eyes with a quick, glad turn of her head, relieved from the suspicion that had been filling her with apprehension; and impulsively she put out her hand.
Her companion clasped it. "Well, better late than never," he said.
"I am so glad!" she returned, low and excitedly, "I was afraid you didn't know it,—that perhaps your father hadn't told you of our engagement."
"What! You engaged, Clover?" returned Jack in great astonishment, pausing in his walk. "Why, of course I didn't know it." He shook her passive hand again, and started on. "I haven't had a chance for any talk with father yet, for when I dropped in at the office, this morning, he had some old duffer with him. I only meant just now to fish for congratulations for myself, that my grind is over. I've been receiving a lot of them lately, you know. Excuse the egotism. Now I understand why you have seemed to have something on your mind this afternoon. I do congratulate him most heartily, whoever he is. He's a happy man. Do I know him?"