However (and the girl’s lips set firmly) she was determined to take her own gait—­to stand upon her own opinion—­to refuse to be swerved from her chosen course by any consideration.  Lawford Tapp was in a financial situation to spend his time in the improvement of his body and mind without regard to money considerations.  Louise foresaw that they were going to have a delightful time together along the shore here, until daddy-prof came home in the fall.  And then——­

She saw no such cloud upon the horizon as Lawford saw.  Louise acknowledged the existence of nothing—­not even Aunt Euphemia’s opposition—­which could abate the happiness she believed within her grasp.

She admitted that her interest in Lawford had risen far above the mark of mere friendly feeling.  When she had seen him sinking the day before, and in peril of his life, she knew beyond peradventure that his well-being and safety meant more to her than anything else in the world.

Now she was only anxious to have him learn that she instead of Betty had leaped into the sea after him.  She would avoid him no more.  Only she did not wish to meet him there on the beach before all those idlers.  Louise feared that if she did so, she would betray her happiness.  She thrilled with it—­she was obsessed with the thought that there was nothing, after all, to separate Lawford and herself!

Yet the day passed without his coming to the store on the Shell Road.  Louise still felt some disturbance of mind regarding Cap’n Amazon.  She kept away from him as much as possible, for she feared that she might be tempted to blurt out just what she thought of his ridiculous stories.

She did not like to hear Betty Gallup utter her diatribes against the master mariner; although in secret she was inclined to accept as true many of the “able seaman’s” strictures upon Cap’n Amazon’s character.

It was really hard when she was in his presence to think of him as an audacious prevaricator—­and perhaps worse.  He was so kindly in his manner and speech to her.  His brisk consideration for her comfort at all times—­his wistful glances for Jerry, the ancient canary, and the tenderness he showed the bird—­even his desire to placate Diddimus, the tortoise-shell cat—­all these things withstood the growing ill-opinion being fostered in Louise Grayling’s mind.  Who and what was this mysterious person calling himself Cap’n Amazon Silt?

She had, too, a desire to know just how many of those weird stories he told were filched from Cap’n Abe’s accumulation of nautical literature.  When Cap’n Amazon had gained access to the chest of books Louise could not imagine; but the fact remained that he had at least two of the stories pat.

Louise had promised to spend the evening at the Perritons, and did so; but she returned to Cap’n Abe’s store early and did not invite her escort in, although he was a youth eager to taste the novelty of being intimate with “one of these old Cape Codders,” as he expressed it.