But already there was a tear in Thora's eye, and she turned to join Hilda Paterson, who had gone on in advance. And the two girls walked onward to school.
"Well!" ejaculated the captain as he whipped up pony, "well, I should never have believed it!"
"Believed what, Mr. Gordon?" I asked.
"Why, that such a sweet young girl as that was the daughter of that villainous Carver Kinlay."
"Ay! Thora's a bonnie lassie," I observed, with more feeling than I meant the words to convey; "and she's as good as bonnie."
"My lad, thank Heaven that your lucky stone and your splendid swimming saved you from that dreadful Sound of Hoy."
"I would rather they had saved my father, Mr. Gordon."
"I've no doubt you would, Halcro; but I was thinking of something else. I was thinking that when you grow older, and when little Thora--as you name her--is a woman--"
"Tuts! Mr. Gordon," said I, guessing what he would be at. "The Kinlays and the Ericsons will never be friends."
Thereafter Captain Gordon became very quiet and thoughtful, and when again he spoke it was about my own sister Jessie. He asked me many a question concerning her; and if I turned from the subject to point out some object in the scenery that I thought would interest him, he was sure to lead me back in some way to talk of Jessie.