You see, a woman always
knows--too well, sometimes."
She nodded, and passed in through the swinging-doors. Standing
out there in the narrow, crooked street, Tavernake heard the
clapping and applause which greeted her entrance, he heard her
father's voice. Some one struck a note at the piano--she was
going to sing. Very slowly he turned away and walked down the
cobbled hill.
CHAPTER IV
PRITCHARD'S GOOD NEWS
Late in the afternoon of the following day, Ruth came home from
the village and found Tavernake hard at work on his boat. She
put down her basket and stopped by his side.
"So you are back again," she remarked.
"Yes, I am back again."
"And nothing has happened?"
"Nothing has happened," he assented, wearily. "Nothing ever will
happen now."
She smiled.
"You mean that you will stay here and build boats all your life?"
"That is what I mean to do," he announced.
She laid her hand upon his shoulder.
"Don't believe it, Leonard," she said. "There is other work for
you in the world somewhere, just as there is for me."
He shook his head and she picked up her basket again, smiling.
"Your time will come as it comes to the rest of us," she
declared, cheerfully. "You won't want to sit here and bury your
talents in the sands all your days. Have you heard what is going
to happen to me?"
"No! Something good, I hope."
"My father's favorite niece is coming to live with us--there are
seven of them altogether, and farming doesn't pay like it used
to, so Margaret is coming here.
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