"It is too solemn," she cried, "it is too much; we ought not to have jested so."
Harwin laughed.
"Pardon me if I've made you uncomfortable," he said; "but you will forget it in five minutes, and even for that time you must blame Master Waldo's curiosity."
"And mine," added Katie, at which young Waldo gave her a grateful glance. Then he joined with her in breaking the hush that had fallen on the others. "Stephen," she said, "now for your story. Do you think you are coming off scot-free?"
"I thought we had performed our parts," he said, turning to Elizabeth with a smile.
"Mistress Royal has already told her story," cried Waldo, "There's no escape for you."
"Escape would be difficult now, I confess."
"So begin."
He began obediently, but fortune was kinder than he had expected, for he had not fairly started when Kit cried out,—
"A breeze! Here it comes. Heads to larboard!" And down went Archdale's and those of the two ladies with him as the sail was shifted and the boat began to skim the water before the breeze which freshened every minute. Soon they had gained the cove where they were to land, and Archdale's story was never finished.