The girl colored very prettily the moment she set eyes on her lover.
Memories of the previous night became exceedingly vivid. She was
adorably shy, Courtenay thought. As he approached, he debated the
manner of his greeting; being a sailor, he did not hesitate.
Lifting his cap with a smile and a general "Good morning," he bent over
Elsie.
"Well," he said, "surely you owe me at least one kiss?"
If her cheeks were red before they became scarlet now. But his
kindling glance had warned her that he would adopt no pretence, so she
lifted her face to his, though she did not dare to look at her amazed
companions. Courtenay explained matters quite coolly.
"If Elsie has not told you already, it is my privilege to announce that
she and I have signed articles," he said with a smile. "That is, we
intend to get married as soon as the ship reaches England."
"Indeed, I congratulate you both most heartily," said the missionary's
wife.
"Events have marched, then, while we were stranded on that wretched
island?" tittered Isobel. Her voice was rather shrill. She, too, was
excited, not quite mistress of herself.
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