That was the way with her. He never made any advance but she drove him back further than he was originally. She saw how her last remark was affecting him, and a smile flickered over her face that was not altogether one of discouragement. He looked up just in time to catch it. The result was disastrous. He missed his thrust--the saw slipped and cut his hand. It was not a deep wound, but it bled profusely--into the white slit of wood, and, drop by drop, down upon the little heap of saw-dust at his feet. She saw it as soon as he did, and gave a little cry of alarm.
"Oh, you have cut yourself, and all through my stupidity! Quick, give me your handkerchief and let me tie it up."
Before he had properly realised what had happened, she had drawn her own handkerchief from her pocket, taken his hand, and was binding it up.
"I'm so very, very sorry. It was all my fault. I should not have stayed here worrying you with my silly talk. Can you forgive me?"
He looked into her face--with its great brown eyes so close to his--this time without the least embarrassment. And what beautiful eyes they were!
"You are not to blame. It was the result of my own carelessness. I should have looked at the saw instead of your face."
"Very possibly; but you must not cut any more wood. I forbid it! Do you think you will remember what I say?"
Not another word passed between them. She went into the house, and he, with a sea of happiness surging at his heart that he would have been puzzled to account for, back to the store.
But that evening all the enjoyment he had got out of the afternoon was destined to be taken away from him. After dinner, Murkard had some work in the office he wished to finish in time for the China mail next day, so Ellison wandered down to the shore alone. The moon was just rising over the headland, and the evening was very still; there was hardly enough wind to stir the palm leaves on the hill-top. Further round the island alligators were numerous, and as he stepped on to the beach Ellison thought he could make out one lying on the sand ahead of him. He stepped across to obtain a closer view, only to find that it was the trunk of a sandal-wood tree washed up by the tide. As he turned to retrace his steps he heard someone coming through the long grass behind him. It was Esther.