Alma Marston's voice interrupted his somber appreciation of the
significance of that ditty. "Are you up there, Boyd?" she asked, in
cautious tones.
He hurried to the head of the ladder and saw her at its foot, half
hidden in the mists even at that short distance. He reached down his
hand and she came up, grasping it.
She was studying his expression with both eagerness and apprehension. "I
couldn't stay away from you any longer," she declared. "The fog is good
to us! Father could not see me as I came forward. I must tell you, Boyd.
He has ordered me to stay aft."
He did not speak.
"Has he dared to say to you what he has been saying below about you?"
"I don't think it needed any especial daring on your father's part; I am
only his servant," he said, with bitterness.
"And he--he insulted you like that?"
"I suppose your father did not look on what he said as insult. I repeat,
I am a paid servant."
"But what you did was right! I know it must have been right, for you
know everything about what is right to do on the sea."
"I understand my duties."
"And he blamed you for something?"
"It was a bit worse than that from my viewpoint." He smiled down at
her, for her eyes were searching his face as if appealing for a bit of
consolation.
"Boyd, don't mind him," she entreated. "Somebody who has been fighting
him in business has been very naughty. I don't know just what it's all
about. But he has so many matters to worry him. And he snaps at me just
the same, every now and then."
"Yes, some men are cowards enough to abuse those who must look to them
for the comforts of this world," he declared.
"We must make allowances."
"I'll not stay in a position where a man who hires me thinks he can
talk to me as if I were a foremast hand. Alma, you would despise me if I
allowed myself to be kicked around like a dog."
"I would love you all the more for being willing to sacrifice something
for my sake. I want you here--here with all your love--here with me as
long as these summer days last." She patted his cheek. "Why don't you
tell me that you want to stay with me, Boyd? That you will die if we
cannot be together? We can see each other here. I can bring Nan Burgess
on the bridge with me. Father will not mind then. Let each day take care
of itself!"