d not
dream of marrying you, other reasons which are absolutely sufficient,
but--do you know that you have asked me twice and you have never once
said that you cared, that you have never once looked as though you
cared? No, don't, please," she interrupted, "don't explain anything. You
see, a woman always knows--too well, sometimes."

She nodded, and passed in through the swinging-doors. Standing out there
in the narrow, crooked street, Tavernake heard the clapping and applause
which greeted her entrance, he heard her father's voice. Some one struck
a note at the piano--she was going to sing. Very slowly he turned away
and walked down the cobbled hill.

CHAPTER IV. PRITCHARD'S GOOD NEWS

Late in the afternoon of the following day, Ruth came home from the
village and found Tavernake hard at work on his boat. She put down her
basket and stopped by his side.

"So you are back again," she remarked.

"Yes, I am back again."

"And nothing has happened?"

"Nothing has happened," he assented, wearily. "Nothing ever will happen
now."

She smiled.

"You mean that you will stay here and build boats all your life?"

"That is what I mean to do," he announced.

She laid her hand upon his shoulder.

"Don't believe it, Leonard," she said. "There is other work for you in
the world somewhere, just as there is for me."

He shook his head and she picked up her basket again, smiling.

"Your time will come as it comes to the rest of us," she declared,
cheerfully. "You won't want to sit here and bury your talents in the
sands all your days. Have you heard what is going to happen to me?"

"No! Something good, I hope."

"My father's favorite niece is coming to live with us--there are seven
of them altogether, and farming doesn't pay like it used to, so Margaret
is coming here. Father says that if she is as handy as she used to be I
may go back to the schools almost at once."

Tavernake was silent for a moment. Then he got up and threw down his
tools.

"Great Heavens!" he exclaimed. "If I am not becoming the most selfish
brute that ever breathed! Do you know, the first thought I had was that
I should miss you? You are right, young woman, I must get out of this."

She disappeared into the house, smiling, and Tavernake called out to
Nicholls, who was sitting on the wall.

"Mr. Nicholls," he asked, "how much notice do you want?"

Matthew Nicholls removed his pipe from his mouth.

"Why, I don't know that I'm parti