Mrs. Richie said hurriedly something about its being too damp for Elizabeth on the sand. "Do call them in!" He laughed. "No; you don't need 'em. I won't say any more--to-night." "Here they come!" Mrs. Richie said in a relieved voice. A minute before, David, looking up at the porch, and discovering Nannie's absence, had said, "Let's go in." "Oh, must we?" Elizabeth said, reluctantly. "I'd so much rather sit down here and have you kiss me." But she came, perforce, for David, in his anxiety not to leave his mother alone with Mr. Ferguson, was already halfway up the beach. "Do tell Elizabeth about the money now," Mrs. Richie said. "I will," said Robert Ferguson; but added, under his breath, "I sha'n't give up, you know." Mrs. Richie was careful not to hear him. "Elizabeth!" she said, eagerly. "Your uncle has some news for you." And Mr. Ferguson told his niece briefly, that on her birthday in December she would come into possession of some money left her by her father. "Don't get up your expectations, it's not much," he said, charily, "but it's something to start on." "Oh, Uncle! how splendid!" she said, and caught David's hand in both of hers. "David!"--her face was radiantly unconscious of the presence of the others: "perhaps we needn't wait two years?" "I'm afraid it won't make much difference." David spoke rather grimly; "I must be able to buy your shoestrings myself, you know, before we can be married." Elizabeth dropped his hand, and the dimple straightened in her cheek. Mrs. Richie smiled at her. "Young people have to be prudent, dear child." "How much money shall I have, Uncle?" Elizabeth asked coldly. He told her. "Not a fortune; but David needn't worry about your shoestrings." "Yes, I will," he broke in, with a laugh. "She'll have to go barefoot, if I can't get 'em for her!" Elizabeth exclaimed, with angry impatience, and Robert Ferguson, chuckling, struck him lightly on the shoulder. "Look out you don't fall over backward trying to stand up straight!" he said. The possibility of an earlier wedding-day was not referred to again. The next morning they all went up to town together in the train, and Elizabeth, who had recovered from her momentary displeasure, did no more than cast glowing looks at David--lovely, melting looks of delicate passion, as virginal as an opening lily--looks that said, "I wish we did not have to wait!" For her part, she would have been glad "to go barefoot," if only they might the sooner tread the path of life together.