All the chivalry in Fessenden's nature stirred at her words. His clenched hands sank to the wrists in the soft sand, and his voice shook a little as he answered: "Not if--if we marry, and still remain only--friends." Her glance searched his soul. "O-oh! Can you--mean what you say?" "I give you my word of honor. Do you remember that night--good heavens! was it only last Friday?--that night I had supper at your house, and what I told you when you looked as if you were willing to say good-night in a certain way?" "I remember." "Well, I'll stick by that." She rose to her feet. "You haven't answered me yet," he protested. Her face flushed exquisitely. "There's a church in Kitty Hawk," she said. "And I believe a minister comes over from the mainland once a month. Madge says he is due--to-morrow." XII They were married in the little Kitty Hawk church at noon the next day. Before the hour of the wedding came, certain matters had been attended to. Letters had been written in time to catch the launch which would return with the minister from Kitty Hawk to the mainland. The clothing stock of the "Bazaar" had been materially reduced by the demands both Betty and Fessenden had made upon it. The _Wisp_ had been loaded with everything in the way of food, water, and utensils, that could be needed for a fortnight's cruise. "Why bother with the sloop?" Danton had demanded. "There's plenty of room on the _West Wind_. We can all go honeymooning together, eh, Madge? Over to Bermuda, if you like." To Fessenden's infinite relief, Betty had declined this well-meant offer. "No, thank you," she had said, blushing a little. "After to-night, I'll go back to the dear little _Wisp_--where I'll belong, you know. Bob White is going to take me down through the sounds, and then back through the Dismal Swamp, home." Madge and Danton, supplemented by the entire crew of the _West Wind_, were the witnesses at the wedding. It seemed to Fessenden that Betty's eyes were bluer than the sea that broke on the inlet bar, and the light in them more mysterious and wonderful. She looked a fair and innocent child. He answered the minister's questions, and even signed the marriage certificate, in a sort of daze, a daze from which he roused himself only after they had eaten the wedding breakfast on the _West Wind_, and having boarded the _Wisp_, were waving farewell to the others across the water. Betty serenely assumed command. "I'll take the wheel, Boatswain Bob," she said, "and you get up sail." He cast off from the float, and set jib, flying jib, and mainsail in a trice. As the sloop gathered headway, the helmswoman stood under the stern of the larger yacht. "Good-by, good-by, children," called Danton patronizingly. "_Bon voyage_, children," chorused Madge. "Be sure to love each other." "Good-by, old married people," retorted Fessenden.