He was stepping past her, when over the seaward edge of the cliff there came a sound like the yell of a raging sea-monster.
“Siren!” shouted Blake, whirling about.
The cloud of smoke beyond the cliff end was now rolling up more to the left. He dashed away towards the north edge of the cliff as though he intended to leap off into space. The girl ran after him as fast as she could over the loose stones. Before she had covered half the distance she saw him halt on the very brink of the cliff, and begin to wave and shout like a madman. A few steps farther on she caught sight of the steamer. It was lying close in, only a little way off the north point of the headland.
Even as she saw the vessel, its siren responded to Blake’s wild gestures with a series of joyous screams. There could be no mistake. He had been seen. Already they were letting go anchor, and there was a little crowd of men gathering about one of the boats. Blake turned and started on a run for the cliff. But Miss Leslie darted before him, compelling him to halt.
“Wait!” she cried, her eyes sparkling with happy tears. “Tom, it’s come now. You needn’t–”
“Let me by! I’m going to meet them. I want to–”
But she put her hands upon his shoulders.
“Tom!” she whispered, “let it be now, before any one–anything can possibly come between us! Let it be a part of our life here–here, where I’ve learned how brave and true a real man can be!”
“And then have him prove himself a sneak!” he cried. “No; I won’t, Jenny! I’ve got you to think of. Wait till I’ve seen your father. Ten to one, he’ll not hear of it–he’ll cut you off without a cent. Not but what I’d be glad myself; but you’re used to luxuries, girlie, and I’m a poor man. I can’t give them to you–”
She laid a hand on his mouth, and smiled up at him in tender mockery.