I have known very happy attachments where
inconsistencies of birth, habit, education were far greater, perhaps,
than with us. I have made up my mind that, if you still desire it, I will
wait for you."
"Wait for me, teacher!" exclaimed the Cradlebow, opening his eyes with a
solemn, wide surprise; "why, of course!"
"Why, of course?" I questioned faintly, not knowing whether to smile at
being thus abruptly disarmed, or to feel the least little bit piqued at
the youth's unconscious audacity.
"What else should two people do who love each other?" There was nothing
either of doubt or arraignment in the Cradlebow's serious eyes.
"Besides," he continued; "I've known it all along. See here, teacher!"
and he took from his pocket, and carefully unfolded, a sheet of paper
against the background of which there lay revealed a dainty star fish,
most curiously twisted about with some rare and beautiful sea vine.
"You won't find that vine washed up on this beach every day," he said
eagerly. "When I showed it to Granny--'If Heaven itself had spoken, boy,'
says she, 'I should be no surer it was a fair voyage waiting you than I
be now;' though I was thinking of something besides the voyage, teacher,
but it's all the same, it means good luck; and wouldn't you like to keep
it for us?"
[Illustration]
"Oh, no!" I answered, laughingly refusing the delicate talisman.
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