"Because they have lovers on board. Your lover stays on shore, little one."
"And poor Rose looks over the sea," said Bidiane, dreamily. "I should think that you might trust me now with the story of her trouble, whatever it is, but you are so reserved, so fearful of making wild statements. You don't treat me as well even as you do a business person,—a client is it you call one?"
Agapit smiled happily. "Marry me, then, and in becoming your advocate I will deal plainly with you as a client, and state fully to you all the facts of this case."
"I daresay we shall have frightful quarrels when we are married," said Bidiane, cheerfully.
"I daresay."
"Just see how Rose stares at that ship."
"She is a beauty," said Agapit, critically, "and foreign rigged."
There was "a free wind" blowing, and the beautiful stranger moved like a graceful bird before it. Rose—the favorite occupation in whose quiet life was to watch the white sails that passed up and down the Bay—still kept her eyes fixed on it, and presently said, "The stranger is pointing towards Sleeping Water."
"I will get the marine glass," said Bidiane, running to the house.