Eve's words had their effect, and when Reuben turned his pale face to her again his whole mood was softened. "'Tis to be the same friend I always was that I've come, Eve," he said; "only you know me, and how I can never keep from blurting out all at once things that I ought to bring round bit by bit, so that they might do good and not give offence." "You haven't offended me yet," she said--"at least," she added, smiling in her old way at him, "not beyond what I can look over; and so far as I can and it will ease your mind, Reuben, I'll try to tell you all you care to know about uncle and--the rest of them. I'm sure if you knew them you'd like them: you couldn't help it--more particularly Joan and Adam, if you once saw those two." "And why can't I see them, Eve? It wouldn't seem so very strange, being your friend--for that's all I claim to be--going there to see you, would it?" "No, I don't know that it would; only," and here she hesitated, "whatever you saw that you didn't like, Reuben, you'd only speak to me about. You wouldn't begin arguing with them, would you?" Reuben shook his head. Then with a sudden impulse, he said, "And have you really given all your love to this man, Eve?" "Yes," she said, not averting her eyes, although her face was covered with a quick blush. "And whatever comes you mean to be his wife?" "I don't mean to be anybody else's wife," she said. "And he--he cares for you?" "If he didn't be sure I should have never cared for him." Reuben sighed. "Well," he said, "I'll go and see him. I'll have a talk with him, and try and find out what sort of stuff he's made of. If I could go away certain that things ain't as bad as I feared to find them, I should take back a lighter heart with me. You say he isn't home now. Is he at sea, then?" "No, not at sea: he's close by." "Then you expect him back soon?" "Yes: we expect him back to-night." "To-night? Then I think I'll change my plan. I meant to go back to Plymouth and see what Triggs is about to do, for I'm going round to London with him when he goes; but if you're expecting your cousin so soon, why shouldn't I stop here till I've seen him?" "Oh, but he mightn't come," said Eve, who in any case had no wish that Reuben should appear until she had paved the way for his reception, and above all things desired his absence on this particular occasion. "Well, I must take my chance of that--unless," he added, catching sight of her face, "there's any reason against my stopping?" Eve colored. "Well," she said, "perhaps they mightn't care, as they don't know you, about your being here. You see," she added by way of excuse, "they have been away a long while now." "Been to France, I s'pose?" said Reuben in a tone which conveyed his suspicions. "No," replied Eve, determined not to seem ashamed of their occupation: "I think they've been to Guernsey." "Oh, well, all the same, so far as what they went to fetch. Then they're going to _try_ and land their cargo, I s'pose?"