dark oarsman
paddled off.

CHAPTER XVIII.

AT DINNER.

"Nor did she lift an eye nor speak a word,
Rapt in the fear and in the wonder of it."

Eleanor's shamefacedness was upon her in full force when she found
herself in the canoe pushing off from the schooner and her friends
there. She felt exceeding shy and strange, and with that a feeling very
like awe of her companion. A feeling not quite unknown to her in former
days with the same person, and in tenfold force now. There was no doubt
to be sure of the secret mind of them both towards each other;
nevertheless, he had never spoken to her of his affection, nor given
her the least sign of it, except on paper, up to that day; and now he
sat for all she could see as cool and grave as ever by her side. The
old and the new state of things it was hard to reconcile all at once.
To do Eleanor justice, she saw as one sees without looking; she was too
shame-faced to look; she bent her outward attention upon their boatman.
He was another native, of course, but attired in somewhat more
civilized style, though in no costume of civilized lands. What he wore
was more like a carman's frock at home than anything else it could be
likened to. He was of pleasant countenance, and paddled along with
great activity and skill.

They had been silent for the first few minutes since leaving the
schooner, till at length Mr. Rhys asked her, with a little of the sweet
arch smile she remembered so well, "how she had liked the first sight
of a Fijian?" It brought such a rush upon Eleanor of past things and
present, old times and changes, that it was with the utmost difficulty
she could make any answer at all.

"I was too much interested to think of liking or disliking."

"You were not startled?"

"No."

"That was a heathen chief, of the opposite village."

"He wanted something, did he not?"

"Yes; that the captain of the schooner should accommodate him in
something he thought would be for his advantage. It was impossible, and
so I told him."

Eleanor looked again towards the oarsman.

"This is one of our Christian brethren."

"Are there many?" she asked, though feeling as if she had no breath to
ask.

"Yes. And we have cause to be thankful every day at hearing of more. We
want ten times as many hands as we, have got. How has the long voyage
been to you?"

Eleanor answered briefly; but then she was obliged to go on and tell of
Mrs. Caxton, and of Mr. and Mrs. Amos,