As she spoke the vessel rounded to an anchorage at a safe distance from Old Goodwin's. She came at very nearly full speed, then there was a tremendous commotion under her stern which seemed to stop her short, her chain rattled out, and she lay quiet, the only evidence of her effort being the white water, which spread on either side of her and for a long distance ahead. A motor launch was lowered before her anchor touched bottom, several men got in, and it made for Old Goodwin's landing.
We had not heard the step behind us.
"So here's my little girl," said Eve. "Oh! What boat is that, Adam?"
"That is a little boat of Tidda's. She found it. But I'm glad you have come, Eve."
Eve laughed and sat beside me, and she began to pull Tidda's stockings into place. But she said nothing about it, and Tidda did not notice it. And when she had the stockings smooth on the little legs she stood her daughter on her feet and straightened her dress with a touch. Then she got up.
"Come, Adam," she said, "let's go up to father's. He wants to see you. He told me as I came down."
And I got up without a word, and I took one of my daughter's hands in mine, and Eve took the other, and Tidda danced along between us on the path all the way up through the grove to the great house. And I looked at Eve, and I smiled a smile of content, and she smiled back at me. Then her smile changed to one of amusement as she saw what was in my other hand, and I looked, and I was carrying my old battered boots and my clam hoe. But Old Goodwin would not mind.