She did not care to
talk much to-night, and frequently nodded instead of replying with
words.
"But--you would rather I didn't?" he urged.
"No, indeed," still in the same indifferent way. "I should have
company, if I found it dull."
"Then let us go down by the same train--will you, Ida?"
As far as she remembered, it was the first time that he had ever
addressed her thus by her name. She looked up and smiled slightly.
"If you like," was her answer.
CHAPTER XVII
THE MISSING YEARS
"Why shouldn't life be always like this?" said Waymark, lying on the
upper beach and throwing pebbles into the breakers, which each
moment drew a little further hack and needed a little extra exertion
of the arm to reach them. There was small disturbance by people
passing, here some two miles up the shore eastward from Hastings. A
large shawl spread between two walking-sticks stuck upright gave, at
this afternoon hour, all the shade needful for two persons lying
side by side, and, even in the blaze of unclouded summer, there were
pleasant airs flitting about the edge of the laughing sea. "Why
shouldn't life be always like this? It might be--sunshine or
fireside--if men were wise.
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