uld Rob think, or his companions either, but that the person for whom
she was anxious was present among them? They had not heard Mrs
Asplin's words of entreaty, or seen the strained expression on her face
as she murmured, "Remember, dear! Oh, be sure to remember!"

She turned and walked along the shore by herself, clasping her hands in
a passion of longing and pity.

"I gave her my promise, and I'll keep it, whatever they think. It will
be my fault if anything goes wrong. I know, and they don't!"

It was one o'clock before the island was reached, for the row out took a
long time, despite the fact that the amateur oarsmen were all fairly
proficient at their work. Even the professor pulled with a will, while
to see haughty Hector in his shirt sleeves, with his hair matted on his
forehead, was indeed a novel experience. Arthur was stroke, and
Mellicent sat in front and coached him in his duty, to the amusement of
the company and his own unspeakable delight, and Eunice dabbled her hand
in the water, and sent little showers of spray tossing up into the air.
Every now and then, when Arthur made a reply to Eunice more professedly
deferential than usual, her eyes met his, and they smiled at each
other--that smile of happy, mutual understanding which had grown common
between them in the last few months. Peggy intercepted one of the
glances, and felt at once rejoiced and sorrowful; rejoiced because it
was good to see Arthur started on the way she would have him go,
sorrowful because she realised, as many another had done before her,
that his gain must also be her loss, and that just in proportion as
Eunice became necessary to him her own importance must decrease.

When all was said and done, however, it was impossible to indulge in low
spirits in the hours that followed. Oh, the delights of that island,
the dear, shingly beach with its little pools full of a hundred briny
treasures, the long trails of seaweeds, which were credited with the
gift of foretelling weather as well as any barometer; the tiny crabs
that burrowed among the stones; the sea anemones, the jelly-fish, so
innocent to regard, so deadly to encounter. They were all there, with
tiny little pink-lined shells, and pebbles of marvellous transparency
which must surely, surely, be worth taking to a lapidary to examine!
What cries of delight followed the landing, what hasty summoning of the
whole party to witness some fresh discovery; what trippings on slippe