A Matter of Interest | Page 8

I am not more selfish than my
brothers."
"I hope not," she said, smiling.
Presently she rose, touched her hair with the tip of one finger, and
walked to the door.
"Good-night," she said, courtesying very low.
"Good-night," said I, opening the door for her to pass.

III.
The sea was a sheet of silver, tinged with pink. The tremendous arch of
the sky was all shimmering and glimmering with the promise of the sun.
Already the mist above, flecked with clustered clouds, flushed with
rose colour and dull gold. I heard the low splash of the waves breaking
and curling across the beach. A wandering breeze, fresh and fragrant,
blew the curtains of my window. There was the scent of sweet bay in
the room, and everywhere the subtile, nameless perfume of the sea.
When at last I stood upon the shore, the air and sea were all aglimmer
in a rosy light, deepening to crimson in the zenith. Along the beach I
saw a little cove, shelving and all ashine, where shallow waves washed
with a mellow sound. Fine as dusted gold the shingle glowed, and the
thin film of water rose, receded, crept up again a little higher, and again
flowed back, with the Low hiss of snowy foam and gilded bubbles
breaking.
I stood a little while quiet, my eyes upon the water, the invitation of the

ocean in my ears, vague and sweet as the murmur of a shell. Then I
looked at my bathing suit and towels.
"In we go!" said I aloud. A second later the prophecy was fulfilled.
I swam far out to sea, and as I swam the waters all around me turned to
gold. The sun had risen.
There is a fragrance in the sea at dawn that none can name. Whitethorn
abloom in May, sedges asway, and scented rushes rustling in an inland
wind recall the sea to me--I can't say why.
Far out at sea I raised myself, swung around, dived, and set out again
for shore, striking strong strokes until the flecked foam flew. And when
at last I shot through the breakers, I laughed aloud and sprang upon the
beach, breathless and happy. Then from the ocean came another cry,
clear, joyous, and a white arm rose in the air.
She came drifting in with the waves like a white sea-sprite, laughing at
me from her tangled hair, and I plunged into the breakers again to join
her.
Side by side we swam along the coast, just outside the breakers, until in
the next cove we saw the flutter of her maid's cap strings.
"I will beat you to breakfast!" she cried, as I rested, watching her glide
up along the beach.
"Done!" said I--"for a sea-shell!"
"Done!" she called across the water.
I made good speed along the shore, and I was not long in dressing, but
when I entered the dining-room she was there, demure, smiling,
exquisite in her cool, white frock.
"The sea-shell is yours," said I. "I hope I can find one with a pearl in
it."

The professor hurried in before she could reply. He greeted me very
cordially, but there was an abstracted air about him, and he called rue
Dick until I recognised that remonstrance was useless. He was not long
over his coffee and rolls.
"McPeek and Frisby will return with the last load, including your trunk,
by early afternoon," he said, rising and picking up his bundle of
drawings. "I haven't time to explain to you what we are doing, Dick,
but Daisy will take you about and instruct you. She will give you the
rifle standing in my room--it's a good Winchester. I have sent for an
'Express' for you, big enough to knock over any elephant in
India.--Daisy, take him through the sheds and tell him everything.
Luncheon is at noon.--Do you usually take luncheon, Dick?"
"When I am permitted," I smiled.
"Well," said the professor doubtfully, "you mustn't come back here for
it. Freda can take you what you want. Is your hand unsteady after
eating?"
"Why, papa!" said Daisy. "Do you intend to starve him?"
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The professor tucked his drawings into a capacious pocket, pulled his
sea boots up to his hips, seized a spade, and left, nodding to us as
though he were thinking of something else.
We went to the door and watched him across the salt meadows until a
distant sand dune hid him.
"Come," said Daisy Holroyd, "I am going to take you to the shop."
She put on a broad-brimmed straw hat, a distractingly pretty
combination of filmy cool stuffs, and led the way to the long low
structure that I bad noticed the evening before.

The