Page:Life's little ironies (1894).pdf/227

straight course away from the world of land-livers, as if they were intending to drop over the sea-edge into space, and never return to earth again.

“The two on the shore continued to sit on, punctually abiding by their agreement to remain on the same spot till the others returned. The Esplanade lamps were lit one by one, the bandsmen folded up their stands and departed, the yachts in the bay hung ont their riding lights, and the little boats came back to shore one after another, their hirers walking on to the sands by the plank they had climbed to go afloat ; but among these Stephen and Olive did not appear.

“What a time they are!’ said Emily. ‘I am getting quite chilly. I did not expect to have to sit so long in the evening air.’

“Thereupon James Hardcome said that he did not require his overcoat, and insisted on lending it to her.

“He wrapped it round Emily’s shoulders.

“Thank you, James, abe said. ‘Hew cold Olive must be in that thin jacket!’

“ He said he was thinking go, too. ‘ Well, they are sure to be quite close at hand by thia time, though we can’t see 'em. The boats are not all in yet. Some of tbe rowers are fond of paddling along the shore to finish out their hour of hiring.’

"'Shall we walk by the edge of the water,’ said she, ‘to see if we can discover them ?

“He assented, reminding her that they must not lose sight of the seat, leat the belated pair should return and miss them, and be vexed that they had not kept the appointment.

“They walked a sentry beat up and down the sands immediately opposite the seat; and still the others did not come. James Hardcome at last went to the boatman, thinking that after all his wife and cousin might have come in under shadow of the dusk without being