"Yes," I cried, slipping to the ground and running to her; "I'm back again, and well, you see, and as the captain promised."
"Oh, Gilbert, you are always surprising us in this way," she answered, holding my hands and scanning my face to make sure I was not deceiving her.
"Yes; and I hope you are glad to see me?"
"You know I am, though I was not expecting you so soon."
"You see I couldn't stay away from you any longer, Constance. I've been away too long already," I answered, kissing her hand.
"Have you left the boat? And what are you doing with Mr. Hayward's horse?" she asked, in surprise, noticing the animal now for the first time.
"I've just come from the Haywards."
"How can that be, when you went up the river last night?"
"Our boat met with an accident, and so I dropped down to the Haywards before landing."
"An accident! What was it?"