One evening, after dinner, the Minturns went, with some friends who were visiting them, to Katherine's favorite outlook, and, as they were passing the Hunt cottage they saw Dr. Stanley on the porch and invited him to join them. The sun was just setting as they reached their point of observation, where the view, illuminated by the vivid crimson and gold in the western sky, was impressive and magnificent beyond description.
They lingered long, as if loath to leave the enchanting prospect; but, as the softer shades of twilight began to steal gently like a veil of gauze over the scene, they turned their faces homeward once more.
As she was on the point of following, Katherine found Dr. Stanley tarrying beside her.
"Will you wait a moment?" he inquired, in a low voice, which impressed her as sounding not quite natural.
She paused with an inquiring look, and he led her back towards the edge of the bluff.
"Miss Minturn, do you see a vessel far out at sea?" he asked.
"Yes, it is a—"
"Pardon me, please," he interposed; "it is a five-masted schooner, with sails all set, is it not?"
"Why, yes," she began, turning to him in surprise, to find him looking off at the vessel, his right eye covered with one hand.
For a moment she could not speak. Then her face grew luminous with a great joy as she realized what it meant.