But she was still too far away to be heard. Adam continued leisurely walking toward the landing. Then the sailor who had rowed ashore for Rust, saw the picturesque figure coming toward them so swiftly, and pointed her out to Adam.
Rust was puzzled for a moment. Then he knew it was Garde. His heart turned a double somersault in his breast. He felt himself grow red to the tips of his ears. He walked toward the girl as one uncertain of what is expected of him next.
Garde stopped running, when some distance away, and came on more slowly, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. Suddenly afraid of what she had done, uncertain of what she would or could say, to explain her presence so that he would think no less of her than before, she was glad he had not heard her call out his name, but she was tremendously excited. Her eyes shone like brown jewels. Her bosom was heaving rapidly.
“Why—good morning, Mistress Merrill,” said Adam.
“Oh—it is you—Mr. Rust!” said Garde, in the surprise which a woman can feign on a second’s notice. “Why, I thought—why, good morning. I thought I might find Captain Phipps here, and Goody Dune wished me to give him this tea, and she heard—she heard he was going away this morning.”
“Oh! thank you, very much,” said Adam, a little thickly, in his tremendous excitement, which he was endeavoring to restrain. “Goody Dune was very thoughtful, and you were kind to come.”
“But Goody didn’t tell me I should find you here,” said Garde, truthfully enough. She had never felt so stirred in her life. But outwardly she was beginning to be calm. “You told Prudence you were going away. Can it be possible that you are going with Captain Phipps?”
“Yes, this morning,” said Adam.
Then there was a silence for a moment. Garde hardly knew what to say next. If she should make the slightest advance and he should receive it coldly, or derisively, or without understanding, she would die of mortification. The pause became dreadful to bear—to them both.
“I got—Prudence gave me the brooch—from Hispaniola,” Garde stammered, presently.