"So you've been eaves-dropping, have you, sir?" said Mary, looking up archly at her lover.
"No. I was just standing here waiting, in hope of seeing you, and you girls were so busy talking that you walked right up to me."
"And how do you come to be at my elbow when I thought you were far away at sea?"
"We sailed three days ahead of time, and made a much quicker trip than usual, so that I am over a week ahead of the time Mr. Merriwether looked for me. As I was in port, of course I embraced the first opportunity, when I could leave the schooner in charge of the mate, and came to see my Mary."
"How good you are, Dorn," whispered the happy girl, pressing his hands, and with the love-light in her eyes.
"And how much I love you!" he whispered in reply.
"I guess I'd better be getting along home," suggested Ruth, stopping in the path, in readiness to turn back.
"Don't let me drive you away," replied Dorn, gallantly. "It has been a long time since we have met, and I have not yet even asked how you are."
"Oh, you see I'm quite well, and you haven't really appeared to me to be gone away at all, so far as I was concerned, for I've heard so much about you all the time."
"Now, Ruth, are you going to tell tales?" protested Mary.