Pagina 341 de 416

"I see it is all true," she said quietly. "This is all I have to

say. Now I will listen to what you were going to tell me a few

minutes ago--that is, if you still wish to say it."

Nat read his doom in those few calm words. The things that had

been in his mind to say rose and choked his throat; the thought

of the ring in his pocket seemed like profanation. He gulped

twice and tried to speak, but the words clotted on his tongue.

Still she sat quietly looking at him, politely ready to listen.

With a horrible croaking sound he got to his feet, looked

irresolutely at her for a moment, and then went to the side where

his dory lay. She next saw him rowing dazedly to the Nettle B.,

and then she turned her face from the sight of him.

And suddenly into her mind, long prepared, came the thought of

Code Schofield. Amid the chaos of her shattered ideals his face

and figure rose more desirable than all the earth.

"Oh, Heaven, give him to me--some time!" she breathed in a voice

of humble prayer.