"And you promise never to deceive me again?"
"I swear it."
"You value my good opinion, I suppose."
"I would rather die than lose it!"
"Well, you have lost it, and forever."
From the bowed head came a groan. At this point Solomon approached the
kneeling figure and placed his nose inquiringly against the criminal's
ear. And the criminal involuntarily shrank from the cold contact. At
this the lady smiled, but unobserved by the kneeling man.
"Are you sincerely and thoroughly ashamed?"
"Yumps."
"What?"
"Yes, oh, yes!"
"I don't like your manner."
"Please like it. I am honest now. I shall always be good."
"You couldn't. It isn't in you."
"There is going to be a mighty effort."
"Get up!"
He obeyed. As their eyes met, he smiled, but with a frown she pointed
toward the cottage. "Turn around and walk humbly with your head down.
You are not to speak until spoken to. And you are to be in disgrace for
three days."
"Oh! Three days?"
"Go ahead."
And again he obeyed.
Elinor was firm. For three days the disgrace endured. But it was not of
a nature to demolish hope or even to retard digestion. And Solomon, who
was a keen observer, displayed no unusual sympathy, and evidently failed
to realize that his master was in any serious trouble.
On pleasant evenings Pats and Elinor often went to the beach below and
sat upon the rocks, always attended by Solomon, the only chaperon at
hand. Here they were nearer the water. And one evening they found much
happiness in watching a big, round moon as it rose from the surface of
the Gulf. The silence, the shimmer of the moonlight on the waters--all
tended to draw lovers closer together. Already the heads of these two
people were so near that the faintest tone sufficed. And they murmured
many things--things strictly between themselves, that would appear of an
appalling foolishness if repeated here--or anywhere. They also talked on
serious subjects; subjects so transcendentally serious as to be of
interest only by night. Like all other lovers they exchanged
confidences. Once, when Pats was speaking of his family she suddenly
withdrew her hand. "By the way, there is something to be explained. Tell
me about that interview with your father."
"Which interview?"
"The disgraceful, murderous one."