One day, as they were sailing homeward, the _Annie Laurie_ speeding on a flowing tide and a favorable breeze, his longing became almost insupportable. "See here, Nell," he said, with the timidity of the man whose every pulse is throbbing with passion, "why--why shouldn't we be married at once? I mean, what is the use of waiting?" "Married!" She drew away from him and caught her breath. "Why not?" he asked. "I shan't be any the richer for waiting, and--and I want you very badly." "But I am here--you have got me," she said, with all the innocence of a child. "Oh, why should we hurry?" He bit his pipe hard. "I know," he said, rather huskily. "But I want you altogether--for my very own. I don't want to have to part with you at the gate of The Cottage. You don't understand; but I don't want you to. But, Nell, as we are going to be married, we might as well be married now as months hence." Her head sank lower; the _Annie Laurie_ lost the wind, and fell off and rolled on the ground swell. "Do you--want to marry me--so soon?" she murmured. "So soon!" he echoed. "Why, it is months--weeks--since we were engaged." "But--but--aren't you happy--content?" she asked. "I--I am so happy. I know that you love me; that is happiness enough." He drew her to him and kissed her with a reverence which he thought no woman would have received from him. "No; it is not enough, dearest," he said. "You don't understand. I'll put the banns up to-morrow--no; I'll get a special license. I want you for my own, all my own, Nell." When they sailed into the slip by the jetty, Dick was waiting for them. "Hal-lo!" he yelled. "I've been waiting for you for the last two hours. I've news for you." "News?" said Drake. Nell was coiling the sheet in a methodical fashion, and thinking of Drake's words. "Yes. The Maltbys are going to give a dance, and you and I and Nell are asked." "And who are the Maltbys?" he inquired, with a lack of interest which nettled Dick. "The Maltbys are our salt of the earth," he replied; "they are our especial 'local gentry'; and, let me tell you, an invitation from them is not to be sneezed at." "I didn't sneeze," said Drake, clasping Nell's hand as he helped her out of the boat. "It's for the fifth," said Dick; "and it's sure to be a good dance; better still, it's sure to be a good supper. Now, look here, don't you two spoons say you 'don't care about it,' for, I've set my mind upon going." Drake laughed easily. "Would you like to go?" he asked of Nell. "Would you?" she returned. Loverlike, he thought of a dance with her. She was, her girlish innocence, so sparing of her caresses, that the prospect of holding her in his arms during a waltz set him aching with longing. "Yes," he said, "if you like." "All right," she said. "Yes, I should think we might go, Dick." "I should think so!" he shouted. "Fancy chucking away the chance of a dance!"