d turned the corner of the house; then she heard steps behind her.

"Who is it?" she whispered, in some alarm.

"Me," whispered the lightkeeper, gruffly. "I'll go with you a ways."

"No, of course you won't. I'm goin' alone."

"It's too dark for you to go alone. You'll lose the way."

"I'm goin' alone, I tell you! Go back. I don't want you."

"I know you don't; but I'm goin'. You'll fetch up in the cove or
somewheres if you try to navigate this path on your own hook."

"I sha'n't. I'm used to findin' my own way, and I'm goin' alone--as I've
had to do for a good while. Go back."

She stopped short. Seth stopped, also.

"Go back," she insisted, adding scornfully: "I don't care for your help
at all. I'm partic'lar about my company."

"I ain't," sullenly. "Anyhow, I'm goin' to pilot you around the end of
that cove. You sha'n't say I let you get into trouble when I might have
kept you out of it."

"Say? Who would I say it to? Think I'm so proud of this night's cruise
that I'll brag of it? WILL you go back?"

"No."

They descended the hill, Mrs. Bascom in advance. She could not see the
path, but plunged angrily on through the dripping grass and bushes.

"Emeline--Emeline," whispered Seth. She paid no attention to him. They
reached the foot of the slope and suddenly the lady realized that her
shoes, already wet, were now ankle deep in water. And there seemed to be
water amid the long grass all about her.

"Why? What in the world?" she exclaimed involuntarily. "What is it?"

"The salt marsh at the end of the cove," answered the lightkeeper. "I
told you you'd fetch up in it if you tried to go alone. Been tryin' to
tell you you was off the track, but you wouldn't listen to me."

And she would not listen to him now. Turning, she splashed past him.

"Hold on," he whispered, seizing her arm. "That ain't the way."

She shook herself from his grasp.

"WILL you let me be, and mind your own business?" she hissed.

"No, I won't. I've set out to get you home, and I'll do it if I have to
carry you."

"Carry me? You? You DARE!"

His answer was to pick her up in his arms. She was no light weight, and
she fought and wriggled fiercely, but Seth was big and strong and he
held her tight. She did not scream; she was too anxious not to wake
either the substitute assistant or Miss Graham, but she made her bearer
all the trouble she could. They splashed on for some distance; then Seth
set her on her feet, and beneath them