“Truly? No longer than ten minutes?”
“Not a second longer unless you wish it.”
“Come,” said she, turning quickly into the little path, and he followed her. She did not care a straw to see the boat, but she wanted to give him time to get back the color to his face. She walked so fast down the hill; she almost ran. She looked back; he was following close. She began to laugh and started to run. He ran after her, and they did not stop until they got to the beach.
“How long is it since we started?” she asked. He looked at his watch.
“Not quite two minutes,” he answered.
“I beg your pardon for running, obliging you to run, but I felt like it when I saw the blue water. It reminded me of home, of San Diego.”
“No apology is needed. If it gave you pleasure to run, I am glad you did so.”
“One look only, and then we must go back. Perhaps we had better return; I hear horses coming,” she said, and at the same time Mr. Selden and his youngest sister came down by the boat-house at a gallop. His face flushed and became pale, but he lifted his hat as he passed. Gunther did the same, in answer to Miss Selden's salutation.
“Let us return. More riders might be passing,” said Mercedes, and began to walk back.
“What! without seeing the boat?”