The young girl's song ceased, and turning, she leaped lightly as a young deer from her fairy perch, without perceiving him who stood so intently regarding her. Leaping from rock to rock with a fleetness that awoke the surprise of Willard, she reached the road and disappeared within she cottage of Mrs. Tom.
Everything was forgotten now but the one intense desire of knowing who this radiant sea-nymph was. Turning, therefore, into the path she had just taken, he approached the cottage and encountered Carl at the door.
"Well, Master Henley, how are you?" said Willard, carelessly.
"Sticking together," was Master Henly's concise and descriptive answer.
"Glad to hear it," said Willard, repressing a strong inclination to laugh. "Is Mrs. Tom within?"
"She was when I left the house," said Carl, who seemed determined not to commit himself.
"Any one with her?" again inquired the young gentleman, looking as indifferent as possible.
"No, nobody," was the unexpected answer.
"What!" exclaimed Willard, surprised. "I thought I saw a young lady enter a moment ago!"
"Oh, Christie—she's nobody," said the gallant Mr. Henly.