The real answer nearly burst Elizabeth's bounds of self- control, but nevertheless her words were quietly given.
"Yes, — if you will only let me stay out here a little while."
He put a chair for her instantly, and himself remained standing near, as he had done before.
"Walk on, if you wish," said Elizabeth. "Don't mind me."
But instead of that he drew up another chair, and sat down.
There was silence then that might be felt. The moonlight poured down noiselessly on the water, and over the low dusky distant shore; the ripples murmured under the sloop's prow; the wind breathed gently through the sails. Now and then the creak of the rudder sounded, but the very stars were not more calmly peaceful than everything else.
"There is quiet and soothing in the speech of such a scene as this," Winthrop said after a time.
"Quiet!" said Elizabeth. Her voice choked, and it was a little while before she could go on. — "Nothing is quiet to a mind in utter confusion."
"Is yours so?"
"Yes."