"How on earth!" she exclaimed.
"It was not on earth at all," he said; "I came by water. I wanted to find out if what I had heard of the horrors of a coastwise voyage were true; and I found that it was absolutely correct."
"But here!" she exclaimed. "Why here? You could not have known!"
"Of course not," he answered; "if I had known I am sure I would have felt that I ought not to come. But I didn't know, and so you see I am as innocent as a butterfly. More innocent, in fact, for that little wagwings knows where he ought not to go, and he goes there all the same."
Captain Asher was still at the boat, making some practical suggestions to her owner; who, being not yet forty, had many things to learn about the sails and rigging of a catboat.
"Mr. Locker," said Olive, looking at him very intently, "did you come here to renew any of your previous performances?"
"As a serenader?" said he. "Oh, no! But perhaps you mean as a love-maker?"
"That is it," said Olive.
Mr. Locker took off his hat, and rubbed his head. "No," said he, "I didn't; but I wish I could say I did. But that's impossible. I presume I am right in assuming this impossibility?"
"Entirely," said Olive.