“Well, we will not wait for this crowd to get out; we can go out through the chapel.”
And turning, they went through another large room, then down some steps, and thus reached the street.
The boy led Robert away from the town, down toward the sea, where there were several little cottages in which fishermen lived. They passed these and walked on some distance before Robert noticed where he was going, so deeply was he engaged in thought, wondering at his darling’s unexpected presence that day.
At length, on looking up, he saw only the vast expanse of the sea upon one side of him, and on the other great, rocky cliffs, rising high against the sky in somber and majestic grandeur; while behind him, nearly half a mile distant, was the town, and the great buildings of the institute.
Turning suddenly to his guide, he said, sternly:
“Where are you leading me?”
“We are most there,” answered the boy, somewhat confusedly. “Just beyond that clump of trees is the house.”
“Are you sure the gentleman told you to come to this place?” pursued Robert, somewhat suspiciously.
“Yes, sir; he said he did not like noise, and wanted to be where he could see the ocean, and be quiet,” replied young Hans, with evident truth.
Robert knew his father could not bear confusion, and that he loved the sea, though he could not help wondering that he should choose such a very remote abode, and rather an unsafe one, too, for there were reports abroad that a band of smugglers was concealed somewhere about the ledge of rocks, which they were gradually approaching.