She came running to him in the little parlor, her hands outstretched and
her face alight.
He felt at first sight of her, and his face flushed at thought of his
weakness, that he wanted to put his head on her shoulder and weep.
"You poor boy, things have not been going well!"
He choked, for the caress in her tones touched his heart. He patted her
hands, and she sat down beside him on the old haircloth sofa.
"I've had a terrible week of it, Polly."
Her sweet smile did not waver. The gray eyes stared straight into his.
"I have talked to 'em till my mouth has been parched and my tongue sore,
and God knows my heart is sore. All they do is look at me and shake
their heads. I thought I had friends alongshore--men who believed in
me--men who would take my word and help me. I'll never be fooled again
by the fellows who pat you on the back in sunny weather, and won't lend
you an umbrella when it rains unless you'll leave your watch with 'em
for security. And speaking of the watch," he went on, smiling wistfully,
for her mere presence and her unspoken sympathy had begun to cheer
him, "reminds me why I'm here in Maquoit. Oh yes," he put in, hastily,
catching a queer look of disappointment on her face, "I did want to
see you. I looked forward to seeing you after all the others had turned
their backs on me. There's something wonderfully comforting in your
face, Polly, when you just look at me. You don't have to say a word."
"I do thank you, Boyd."
"I hear that Rowley is getting uneasy about his schooner--wants to
take it away from us. So I have sold my watch and all the other bits
of personal things I could turn into cash, and am here to give him the
money and tell him we're going back to fishing again."
"You'll give up the steamer?"
"Yes--and hopes and prospects and all. I've got to."
"But if you could win!"
"I'll stay down where I belong. I won't dream any more."
"Don't give up."
"There's nothing else to do. We poor devils need something besides our
bare hands."
The girl struggled mightily with her next question, but he did not note
her emotions, for his elbows were on his knees and he was staring at the
rag carpet.
"Will it cost a lot of money for what you want to do on the steamer?"