Yet we think we are very wise.

And so, Winn Hardy, full of hope and love, found, when he reached the
coast town where the steamer _Rockhaven_ made landing, that her trips
were but twice a week now and he had a full day to wait.

How slowly it passed while he chafed at the delay! how his eagerness to
be with Mona grew! how his longing increased as he counted the hours he
must wait! and with all mingled a self-reproach, need not be specified.
For it had dawned upon Winn that his conclusions regarding Mona might
have been wrong, and once we feel that we have made a mistake, we soon
feel sure that it must be so.

And Winn was now certain.

But he would and could repair it easily. All that was necessary was to
assure Mona that he had been discouraged or he would have written again,
and to reproach her gently for neglecting to answer his letter.

How easily we plan excuses for our own conduct, and how like a child's
toy we are apt to consider a woman's heart!

When, after a day's wait that seemed a week to Winn, the _Rockhaven_
made landing, he leaped aboard to grasp Captain Roby's hand almost as
he would a father's. But a half gale was blowing outside, the captain
nervously anxious to unload, and start back; and only a word of greeting
did Winn receive until the steamer was well under way toward Rockhaven.
Then, feeling privileged, he entered the little pilot house.

"Well, Captain Roby," he said, "how are you and how's the island?"

"Oh, it's thar yit," answered that bronze-faced skipper, shifting the
wheel a point and heading seaward, "an' likely to stay thar. It seems
sorter nat'rel to see ye, Mr. Hardy," he added cheerfully, "an' I'm
right glad to git the chance. We've been wonderin' what become o' ye an'
how the quarryin' business was comin' out. Ye ain't thinkin' o' startin'
it up agin, air ye?"

"Possibly," answered Winn, "in fact, that is a part of my errand here,
and to make you all a visit. The old company failed, as, I presume, you
know, and I've bought the quarry myself now."

"I'm mighty glad on't," replied the captain cordially, "an' so'll all on
us be. We've sorter took to ye, Mr. Hardy."

"And how is my old friend, Jess?" asked Winn, unable to withhold that
query longer, "and Mrs. Hutton and her daughter and Mrs. Moore?"

"Wal, Jess an' the Widder Hutton took a notion to git hitched long 'fore
Christmas," answered the captain slowly, "an' they're gone to the city
'n' taken Mona with 'em. We gi