"It wouldn't be fair to you. Ward," the girl said, slowly, after a pause. "I love you, but I don't love you the way your wife will!"
"Why do you talk like that--it's all bunk!" he said, impatiently. "If you try it and don't like it, why, you can get out, can't you?"
"Ward, don't say those things!" the girl said, distressedly.
"I want you!" he said, sullenly. "I'm crazy about you! My God--"
"Ward, please don't touch me!" she said, sharply, getting to her feet with a spring, as he put his arm about her. "Don't--! I shall tell your father if you do!"
"You didn't talk that way at Crownlands last June," the man said, sulkily. "I don't see what has made such a difference now!"
"I think perhaps I'm different, Ward. The summer--" Harriet's voice died into silence. Her eyes were fixed upon the figure of a man who came down the little pier, and dove into the shining water. Two minutes later, with a great gasp of satisfaction, Richard Carter drew himself up beside them.
"Ha! That is something like! My Lord, the water is beautiful to-day! How about the buoy? Who swims with me to the buoy?"
"Come on, Harriet!" Ward said, poising.
The girl hesitated, glanced toward the shore. Saunders, with a white-clad girl on each side of him, was walking up to the house.