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not one that was obvious to Fair Harbor or to Helen。
One of their favorite drives was through the pine woods to the point on
which stood the lighthouse； and on one of these excursions they explored a
forgotten wood road and came out upon a cliff。 The cliff overlooked the
sea； and below it was a jumble of rocks with which the waves played hide
and seek。 On many afternoons and mornings they returned to this place；
and； while Latimer read to her； Helen would sit with her back to a tree and
toss pine…cones into the water。 Sometimes the poets whose works he read
made love so charmingly that Latimer was most grateful to them for
rendering such excellent first aid to the wounded； and into his voice he
would throw all that feeling and music that from juries and mass meetings
had dragged tears and cheers and votes。
But when his voice became so appealing that it no longer was possible
for any woman to resist it； Helen would exclaim excitedly： 〃Please excuse
me for interrupting； but there is a large spider〃 and the spell was gone。
One day she exclaimed： 〃Oh！〃 and Latimer patiently lowered the
〃Oxford Book of Verse；〃 and asked： 〃What is it； NOW？〃
〃I'm so sorry；〃 Helen said； 〃but I can't help watching that Chapman
boy； he's only got one reef in； and the next time he jibs he'll capsize； and
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he can't swim； and he'll drown。 I told his mother only yesterday〃
〃I haven't the least interest in the Chapman boy；〃 said Latimer； 〃or in
what you told his mother； or whether he drowns or not！ I'm a drowning
man myself！〃
Helen shook her head firmly and reprovingly。 〃Men get over THAT
kind of drowning；〃 she said。
〃Not THIS kind of man doesn't！〃 said Latimer。 〃And don't tell me；〃 he
cried indignantly； 〃that that's ANOTHER thing they all say。〃
〃If one could only be sure！〃 sighed Helen。 〃If one could only be sure
that youthat the right man would keep on caring after you marry him the
way he says he cares before you marry him。 If you could know that； it
would help you a lot in making up your mind。〃
〃There is only one way to find that out；〃 said Latimer； 〃that is to marry
him。 I mean； of course；〃 he corrected hastily； 〃to marry me。〃
One day； when on their way to the cliff at the end of the wood road；
the man who makes the Nantucket sailor and peddles him passed through
the village； and Latimer bought the sailorman and carried him to their
hiding…place。 There he fastened him to the lowest limb of one of the
ancient pine…trees that helped to screen their hiding…place from the world。
The limb reached out free of the other branches； and the wind caught the
sailorman fairly and spun him like a dancing dervish。 Then it tired of him；
and went off to try to drown the Chapman boy； leaving the sailorman
motionless with his arms outstretched； balancing in each hand a tiny oar
and smiling happily。
〃He has a friendly smile；〃 said Helen； 〃I think he likes us。〃
〃He is on guard；〃 Latimer explained。 〃I put him there to warn us if any
one approaches； and when we are not here； he is to frighten away
trespassers。 Do you understand？〃 he demanded of the sailorman。 〃Your
duty is to protect this beautiful lady。 So long as I love her you must guard
this place。 It is a life sentence。 You are always on watch。 You never sleep。
You are her slave。 She says you have a friendly smile。 She wrongs you。 It
is a beseeching； abject； worshipping smile。 I am sure when I look at her
mine is equally idiotic。 In fact； we are in many ways alike。 I also am her
slave。 I also am devoted only to her service。 And I never sleep； at least not
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since I met her。〃
From her throne among the pine needles Helen looked up at the
sailorman and frowned。
〃It is not a happy simile；〃 she objected。 〃For one thing； a sailorman has
a sweetheart in every port。〃
〃Wait and see；〃 said Latimer。
〃And；〃 continued the girl with some asperity； 〃if there is anything on
earth that changes its mind as often as a weather…vane； that is less
CERTAIN； less CONSTANT〃
〃Constant？〃 Latimer laughed at her in open scorn。 〃You come back
here；〃 he challenged； 〃months from now； years from now； when the winds
have beaten him； and the sun blistered him； and the snow frozen him； and
you will find him smiling at you just as he is now； just as confidently；
proudly； joyously； devotedly。 Because those who are your slaves； those
who love YOU； cannot come to any harm； only if you disown them； only
if you drive them away！
The sailorman； delighted at such beautiful language； threw himself
about in a delirium of joy。 His arms spun in their sockets like Indian clubs；
his oars flashed in the sun； and his eyes and lips were fixed in one blissful；
long…drawn…out； unalterable smile。
When the golden…rod turned gray； and the leaves red and yellow； and it
was time for Latimer to return to his work in the West； he came to say
good…by。 But the best Helen could do to keep hope alive in him was to say
that she was glad he cared。 She added it was very helpful to think that a
man such as he believed you were so fine a person； and during the coming
winter she would try to be like the fine person he believed her to be； but
which； she assured him； she was not。
Then he told her again she was the most wonderful being in the world；
to which she said： 〃Oh； indeed no！〃 and then； as though he were giving her
a cue； he said： 〃Good…by！〃 But she did not take up his cue； and they shook
hands。 He waited； hardly daring to breathe。
〃Surely； now that the parting has come；〃 he assured himself； 〃she will
make some sign； she will give me a word； a look that will write 'total'
under the hours we have spent together； that will help to carry me through
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the long winter。〃
But he held her hand so long and looked at her so hungrily that he
really forced her to say： 〃Don't miss your train；〃 which kind consideration
for his comfort did not delight him as it should。 Nor； indeed； later did she
herself recall the remark with satisfaction。
With Latimer out of t