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for we have got to wade soon；〃 said Miss Maria； sinking her own terrors in
the delightful contemplation of the horror in her parent's face； as she
pointed to a shining film of water slowly deepening in a narrow swale in
the sands between them and the cabin。
〃It's the tide；〃 said the elder gentleman。 〃If we intend to go on we
must hasten； permit me； my dear madam；〃 and before she could reply he
had lifted the astounded matron in his arms； and made gallantly for the
ford。 The gentle Maria cast an ominous eye on her brother； who； with
manifest reluctance； performed for her the same office。 But that acute
young lady kept her eyes upon the preceding figure of the elder gentleman；
and seeing him suddenly and mysteriously disappear to his armpits；
unhesitatingly threw herself from her brother's protecting arms；an action
which instantly precipitated him into the water；and paddled hastily to the
opposite bank； where she eventually assisted in pulling the elderly
gentleman out of the hollow into which he had fallen； and in rescuing her
mother； who floated helplessly on the surface； upheld by her skirts； like a
gigantic and variegated water…lily。 Dick followed with a single gaiter。 In
another minute they were safe on the opposite bank。
The elder lady gave way to tears； Maria laughed hysterically； Dick
mingled a bass oath with the now audible surf； the elder gentleman； whose
florid face the salt water had bleached； and whose dignity seemed to have
been washed away； accounted for both by saying he thought it was a
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quicksand。
〃It might have been；〃 said a quiet voice behind them； 〃you should have
followed the sand dunes half a mile further to the estuary。〃
They turned instantly at the voice。 It was that of the Man on the
Beach。 They all rose to their feet and uttered together； save one； the
single exclamation； 〃James！〃 The elder gentleman said 〃Mr。 North；〃 and；
with a slight resumption of his former dignity； buttoned his coat over his
damp shirt front。
There was a silence； in which the Man on the Beach looked gravely
down upon them。 If they had intended to impress him by any suggestion
of a gay； brilliant； and sensuous world beyond in their own persons； they
had failed； and they knew it。 Keenly alive as they had always been to
external prepossession； they felt that they looked forlorn and ludicrous；
and that the situation lay in his hands。 The elderly lady again burst into
tears of genuine distress； Maria colored over her cheek…bones； and Dick
stared at the ground in sullen disquiet。
〃You had better get up；〃 said the Man on the Beach； after a moment's
thought； 〃and come up to the cabin。 I cannot offer you a change of
garments； but you can dry them by the fire。〃
They all rose together； and again said in chorus； 〃James！〃 but this time
with an evident effort to recall some speech or action previously resolved
upon and committed to memory。 The elder lady got so far as to clasp her
hands and add； 〃You have not forgotten usJames； oh； James！〃； the
younger gentleman to attempt a brusque 〃Why； Jim； old boy；〃 that ended
in querulous incoherence； the young lady to cast a half…searching； half…
coquettish look at him； and the old gentleman to begin； 〃Our desire； Mr。
North〃but the effort was futile。 Mr。 James North； standing before them
with folded arms； looked from the one to the other。
〃I have not thought much of you for a twelvemonth；〃 he said； quietly；
〃but I have not forgotten you。 Come！〃
He led the way a few steps in advance； they following silently。 In
this brief interview they felt he had resumed the old dominance and
independence； against which they had rebelled； more than that； in this half
failure of their first concerted action they had changed their querulous
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bickerings to a sullen distrust of each other； and walked moodily apart as
they followed James North into his house。 A fire blazed brightly on the
hearth； a few extra seats were quickly extemporized from boxes and chests；
and the elder lady； with the skirt of her dress folded over her knees；
looking not unlike an exceedingly overdressed jointed doll；dried her
flounces and her tears together。 Miss Maria took in the scant
appointments of the house in one single glance； and then fixed her eyes
upon James North； who； the least concerned of the party； stood before
them； grave and patiently expectant。
〃Well；〃 began the elder lady in a high key； 〃after all this worry and
trouble you have given us； James； haven't you anything to say？ Do you
knowhave you the least idea what you are doing？ what egregious folly
you are committing？ what everybody is saying？ Eh？ Heavens and
earth！do you know who I am？〃
〃You are my father's brother's widow； Aunt Mary；〃 returned James；
quietly。 〃If I am committing any folly it only concerns myself； if I cared
for what people said I should not be here； if I loved society enough to
appreciate its good report I should stay with it。〃
〃But they say you have run away from society to pine alone for a
worthless creaturea woman who has used you； as she has used and
thrown away othersa〃
〃A woman；〃 chimed in Dick； who had thrown himself on James's bed
while his patent leathers were drying； 〃a woman that all the fellers know
never intended〃here； however； he met James North's eye； and muttering
something about 〃whole thing being too idiotic to talk about；〃 relapsed
into silence。
〃You know；〃 continued Mrs。 North； 〃that while we and all our set shut
our eyes to your very obvious relations with that woman； and while I
myself often spoke of it to others as a simple flirtation； and averted a
scandal for your sake； and when the climax was reached； and she herself
gave you an opportunity to sever your relations； and nobody need have
been wiserand she'd have had all the blameand it's only what she's
accustomed toyouyou！ you； James North！you must nonsensically go；
and； by this extravagant piece of idiocy and sentimental tomfoolery； let
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everybody see how serious the whole affair was； and how deep it hurt you！
and here in this awful place； alonewhere you're half drowned to get to it
and are willing to be wholly drowned to get away！ Oh； don't talk to me！
I won't hear itit's just too idiotic for anything！〃
The subject of this outburst neither spoke nor moved a single muscle。
〃Your aunt； Mr。 North； speaks excitedly；〃 said the elder gentleman；
〃yet I think she does not overestimate the unfortunate position in which
your odd fancy places you。 I know nothing of the reasons that have
impelled you to this step； I only know that the popular opinion is that the
cause is utterly inadequate。 You are still young； with a future before you。
I need not say how your present conduct may imperil that。 If you
expected to achieve any good even to your own satisfactionbut this
conduct〃
〃Yesif there was anything to be gained by it！〃 broke in Mrs。 North。
〃If you ever thought she'd come back！but that kind of woman don't。
They must have change。 Why〃began Dick suddenly； and as suddenly
lying down again。
〃Is this all you have come to say？〃 asked James North； after a
moment's patient silence； looking from one to the other。
〃All？〃 screamed Mrs。 North； 〃is it not enough？〃
〃Not to change my mind nor my residence at present；〃 replied North；
coolly。
〃Do you mean to