"Oh, yes." The girl smiled. How impossible it would be for either of her companions to conceive the cause of her happiness. They need not lack one day that which she had craved for weeks.
As they sailed on, Benny Merritt's stolid eyes glanced from time to time toward Edna. He was guiltily aware that they had passed the vicinity of dangerous ledges. The most uncomfortable feature of the situation was that he knew Miss Derwent to be equally aware of it.
"If he was to sail, I don't know what they brought me fer," he reflected gloomily.
He did know that it was necessary for some one to watch the boat and keep her off the rocks while the others were ashore, but Benny's elders have been known thus to fence with facts.
Edna caught his roving glance at last and raised her brows questioningly.
"Well," said the boy reluctantly, "I s'pose Mr. Dunham can sail now if he wants to."
The manner in which John received the sullen permission reminded Edna of many a past occasion when her friend had not contented himself with getting what he wanted, but managed to transform reluctance into grace.
"Dangerous coast around the island, is it, Benny?" asked John without moving.
"How do ye mean?"
"Treacherous. Hidden rocks to look out for and all that?"