My spirit lies
Under the walls of Paradise."
Having repeated the lines, she suddenly leaned forward and said, "Ah!" with a quick, keen interest.
The man in the boat was looking at her; he took off his cap and waved it.
He seemed to be a very tall, athletic person, wearing white trousers, a blue sack coat, and a white cap. He had thick, light hair very closely cut, long, light Dundreary whiskers, a smooth chin that was so markedly retreating that it apparently required courage to refrain from allowing it to be covered with a beard, prominent blue eyes, short upper lip, and extremely white teeth. This newcomer was sufficiently near the shore to permit all these items of personal appearance to be noted.
"May I land, Miss Ffolliott?" he called out.
"I don't know why not. But I'm not the owner of the beach here," she answered.
In response the man laughed. The next moment he had half reefed the single sail. He took the oars, and brought the boat crunching on the sand; he flung out the anchor, and then leaped after it, pressing it down with his foot. Then he stood up and looked at the door of the barn, where Prudence still sat in the same position. She had watched his movements, a half smile on her face, her eyes narrowed to two glittering lines.
"This is jolly good luck, isn't it?" he asked. Then he hastily added, "For me, I mean. When did you come?"
"This morning," she answered.