I held the letter crumpled in my hand going up the lane. Going up the
lane, too, I met Emily's fisherman coming gayly home from the river.
Mr. Rollin stopped, and gallantly requested the pleasure of carrying a
small book which I held in my hand. He walked back to the Ark with me,
talking very fluently the while.
"Do you know," he began; "I think I'm awfully fortunate meeting you here
in the lane. I've been wishing for an opportunity to speak with you for
two or three days past, but the Ark is such a popular resort for the
youth of Wallencamp, and the children seem to be always following you.
Well, they regard the school teacher as their special property, and would
Consider me worse than an intruder if I should go in to take even the
lowest seat in the synagogue. I've been wanting to speak with you ever
since that first night--when I stared at you so stupidly at Captain
Keeler's--when I went up to borrow the oars, and you were engaged, you
remember," said Mr. Rollin, laughing gently, "in wresting particles of
hulled corn from the ocean depths of that kettle."
"I remember," I said, trying to smother what annoyance I still felt at
the recollection.
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