[Chapter XXII]
Intense as was the joy of the three persons, who a little later set out toward the Homestead in the old yellow dory, they were a silent trio.
Too much of seriousness had happened during the morning for them to dispel its aftermath lightly.
Horatio, pulling at the oars, was unusually earnest, Sylvia turned the ring on her finger reflectively and Stanley Heath looked far out over the water, too deep in thought to be conscious of either of them.
When, however, the boat swung into the channel, Sylvia spoke.
"Hortie and I are not coming with you, Mr. Heath," she said. "We will stay behind. Only do, please, promise me one thing. Do not tell Marcia the whole story before we have a chance to hear it. There are ever so many connecting links I am curious beyond words to have you supply."
"Such as—?"
"The jewels in the first place. I can hardly wait to have that mystery solved."