Nell of Shorne Mills

"To Shallop," he said. "I had a couple of horses sent down."

"But you couldn't ride, with your arm in a sling; and you've a horse

here already."

"Don't suppose it's fit to ride yet," he said, "and I'm not going to

carry a sling forever. Besides, they were eating their heads off--where

they were."

He said nothing about the sidesaddle.

"I see. Well, I'm sorry Dick's gone this morning, for I wanted him to

come out in the boat. It's a good day for mackerel." She looked

wistfully at the sea shining below them. "Of course I could go by

myself, but I promised Mr. Gadsby that I wouldn't."

"Who's Mr. Gadsby?"

"The vicar. I got caught in a squall off the Head one day, and--I really

wasn't in the least danger--but they were all waiting for me at the

jetty, and they made a fuss--and so I had to promise that I wouldn't go

out alone. And old Brownie's out with his nets--he goes with me

sometimes. It's a nuisance."

He stood by the window silently for a moment, then he glanced at her

wistful face, and said: "I should be a poor substitute, in my present condition, for old

Brownie, or old anybody else; but if you'll allow me to go with you, I

shall be very grateful. I can manage the tiller, at any rate."

Nell's face lit up; she wanted to go very badly; it was a "real"

mackerel day, and, like the days of other fishing, not to be missed.

"Will you? That's awfully kind of you! Not that I want any help; it

isn't that, for I can manage the _Annie Laurie_ in half a gale; but

there's a feeling that, because I'm only a girl, I'm not to be trusted

alone."

"I quite understand," he said. "I'll promise not to interfere, if you'll

let me come."

"And it may do you good--it's sure to!" she said eagerly. "There's the

loveliest of breezes--you must have some wind for mackerel--and----Can

you go at once?"

"This very minute. I'm all ready," he said.

"All right," she exclaimed, just as Dick might have done. "I'll be ready

before you can say Jack Robinson!"

She ran out of the room and was down again in a very few minutes. Vernon

glanced at her as they left the cottage and descended the steep road.

She had put on a short skirt of rough serge, with a jersey, which

accentuated every flowing line of her girlish, graceful figure, and the

dark hair rippled under a red tam-o'-shanter. He was familiar enough

with the yachting costumes of fashion, but he thought that he had never

seen anything so workmanlike and becoming as this get-up which Nell had

donned so quickly and carelessly. As they walked down the steps which

led to the jetty, Nell exchanging greetings at every step, an old

fisherman, crippled with rheumatism, limped beside them, and helped to

bring the boat to the jetty steps.