In his home, however, she had become a different creature, scarcely to be recognised as the same Elizabeth,—­so quietly did she go about, hardly conscious of his presence apparently—­and so slavishly did she follow the directions of the mistress of the house.  This new aspect of her had put him in doubt for a while, but it was not very long before he satisfied himself that he understood what it meant; and that little affair with the tea-tray, that was set down to awkwardness by the others, had quite a different significance for him.  He flattered himself that she subjected herself to all this restraint for his sake; and whatever the denouement might be, the situation was, at all events, an interesting one.

But there was, on the other hand, something in her manner that kept him at a certain distance, and left him in uncertainty as to what line exactly he should take.  The same had been the case whenever they had been together out on the island, and had in fact been the principal cause of his becoming more deeply in love with her every day.  He had once out there encountered a look in her steel-grey eyes which had given him the impression that the opinion she entertained of him could in a moment be reversed, and that least of all dare he allow her to feel that he was appearing in the character of a lover; and it was for this reason he had scarcely ever talked with her grandfather, and only casually with herself.  The fact was, old Jacob had very well understood that the smart young navy-lieutenant did not come out there for his sake; and as he could not very well shut the door in his face, he had very sensibly warned his granddaughter against him.  He explained to her that people of his class were not in the habit of marrying a common man’s child, although it happened far too often that they might play at love with them.  “Such a lad as Salve Kristiansen, now,” he remarked, in conclusion, “that is the sort of stuff that will not disappoint you;” and he thought he had played the diplomatist there with some skill.

“I didn’t understand you to mean that exactly, grandfather, that time you were going to beat him,” she said.

The old man was rather nonplussed for the moment, but he growled out something about youngsters requiring correction occasionally, and went on, “He’s a god lad, I tell you; and if he came and made up to you, he should have you without a moment’s hesitation; and then I should be easy in my mind as to what would become of you when I’m gone.”

Elizabeth made no further observation, but a certain expression about her mouth seemed to denote that she reserved to herself the liberty to have an opinion of her own in this matter.  Salve Kristiansen had been very dear to her as the only friend and confidant she had ever had; but since she had seen the lieutenant, it had been he who had exclusively occupied her thoughts.  All that had formed the ideal of her young enthusiasm had suddenly in his person appeared upon the rock;