All that afternoon Norcot was closeted with Grace, and when he left her, she let him kiss her!
"May the night bring him," she said, "for each moment is a century when I think of my dear ones at home and all their sufferings now."
And that night Cecil Stark arrived. As a fugitive himself, liable to be recaptured and returned to Prince Town by any man eager to earn three pounds, the young sailor exercised caution; and for the sake of his guide it was also necessary that he should incur no risk; but ere midnight he came, and Norcot himself ushered him into the house.
"A hearty welcome!" he said, with the most genial handgrip. "I expected you. Had you not escaped yesterday, I was coming to Prince Town to see Short and go bail for you; but love has a thousand wings and a thousand voices. Come in, Mr. Stark. Henceforth you are my guest."
He offered his hand, but the other did not take it.
"One word, sir. Is Miss Malherb here?"
"Come in, come in. You gladden my heart; for Heaven can bear witness that I took to you from the first moment ever I saw you—when you came so near to braining that beautiful lady. I'm 'a beast of company but not of the herd,' as Plutarch says. Give me a friend or two, not a regiment of 'em. There was that in your face—
Born to command, to conquer and to spare;
As mercy mild, yet terrible as war.'
Come in."
"'Wolves do change their hair, but not their hearts'!