"Kate," said he suddenly, in a voice rendered so thick by emotion that
she could not help starting, although she made no reply.
"Kate, do you remember you promised to call me `Frank' that night on the
wreck when we expected every moment that the _Nancy Bell_ would go down
with us and every soul aboard?"
"Ye-es," she murmured, very softly and in a hesitating way.
"Well, I want you to call me always so--that is to have the right--you
know what I mean."
Her tender blue eyes were raised to his inquiringly.
"I love you," he cried passionately, "and I want you to promise--"
"Hush!" said she, putting her hand over his lips; but he only kissed the
hand, and went on with what he was about to say when she had interrupted
him.
"I want you, Kate, my darling, to promise to be my wife!" he said. "I
love you more than I can tell--I have loved you since ever I first saw
you--and I shall love you till my dying day; will you promise, Kate, to
be my wife? but, if you can't yet do all I ask, will you try to love me
a little? Oh, Kate, I do love you so dearly!"
Her head bent lower and lower, so that he had to bend his too in order
to see what her face said, for she would not speak; and, as the
firelight danced upon the dear face and lightened up the blue eyes which
so shyly looked into his, Frank seemed to read an answer there that was
favourable to his hopes, for he passed his arm round her waist without
another moment's hesitation, and ventured to imprint a kiss upon her
lips.
"My darling, my darling!" he murmured in an ecstasy of joy; but just
then Mr Meldrum raised his head from between his clasped hands and
looked at the pair.
He evidently realised what had happened, and, as evidently, he was not
taken by surprise at the event. Nor, indeed, would anyone else have
been in the whole community; for Frank's love to Kate had been as
palpable to all as the famed ostrich of the story was when it hid its
head in the sand and imagined itself invisible to its pursuers!
"My children," said he kindly, coming over to them and holding out his
hand to Frank, who at once grasped it, "I expected this; and I cannot
say I am displeased. I know you have an affection for each other--"
We love each other," interrupted Frank eagerly.
"Well, you love each other, if you prefer it being so put; but you are
both very young, and you must wait for some time even after we are
released, as I hope we shall be by and by, from this desert isle. I
have seen enough of you, Frank Harness, to feel confident that I can
trust my daughter's happiness to your keeping; but you must first secure
a name and a competence for yourself before you can dream of asking her
to be your wife. You see, my boys I may perhaps have overheard more of
your whispered conversation than you thought! I can give Kate nothing,
for I am a ruined man, and was going out to New Zealand to try and
retrieve my lost fortune when this untoward disaster happened!"
"Mr Meldrum," said Frank respectfully, standing up by the side of the
other and facing him like a man, "I want nothing but Kate. She is the
greatest fortune I could ever crave! My father is a rich man, one of
the largest ship-owners in Liverpool, and my taking to the sea has been
strongly against his wish, although he consented to it when he saw how
bent I was upon being a sailor. He could make me independent to-morrow
if I asked him."
"I prefer you as you are, Frank," responded Mr Meldrum; "and I'm sure
so does Kate, eh?"
Yes," said she shyly, and blushing as she looked up for an instant.
"Then keep as you are, my boy,"--continued her father--"and as soon as
you are captain of a vessel of your own--and Mr McCarthy tells me you
are quite competent to pass the Trinity-House examination for a first-
mate's certificate; why, you may come to me and claim Kate's hand!"
"Is that a bargain?" asked Frank anxiously, looking from one to the
other.
"It is," replied Mr Meldrum, while Kate faintly whispered another
"yes."
"Then," said Frank triumphantly, "she shall be my wife before another
year goes over our heads; for, I can pass as soon as I go home for a
first officer's certificate, and get a ship to command immediately
afterwards if I like. Look out for me to make my claim within that
time, according to your promise!"
"And I guess I'm witness to that thaar agreement," exclaimed Mr
Lathrope, starting up.
The artful old fellow had been "playing 'possum," as he termed it, all
along; only waiting for the denouement of the little drama before
disclosing himself. However, he seemed so genuinely pleased with what
had taken place that neither of the principal performers could be angry
with him for listening.
"I'm downright real glad," said he after a bit, congratulating them both
and wringing poor Frank's hand well nigh off in the exuberance of his
delight. "Say, if yer don't believe me, may I never eat another clam
chowder agin--durn my boots if I ever will, thar!"