"And you promise never to deceive me again?"
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?"
"Please like it. I am honest now. I shall always be good."
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."
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."
"But you did not mean to do him injury, did you?"
"_I_ do _him_ injury?" he inquired, in a mild surprise. "Why, what are you driving at, Elinor?"
"Indeed I do! But there were several quarrels. Which one do you mean?"
"I mean the one when you were violent--and murderous."
"If you know all about it, what do you want me to tell?"
Pats took a long breath, then began: "The old gentleman was a hot Catholic. There was no harm in that, you will think. And I am not such a fool as to spoil a night like this by a religious discussion."