"The other," said the captain, as he came round the table and put his
hand on her shoulder, "is my dear and obedient daughter."
"Yes," said Miss Nugent; "but that isn't what you were going to say. You
need not worry about me; I shall not do anything that would displease
you."
CHAPTER XVIII
With a view to avoiding the awkwardness of a chance meeting with any
member of the Nugent family Hardy took the sea road on his way to the
office the morning after the captain's return. Common sense told him
to leave matters for the present to the healing hand of Time, and to
cultivate habits of self-effacement by no means agreeable to one of his
temperament.
Despite himself his spirits rose as he walked. It was an ideal spring
morning, cool and sunny. The short turf by the side of the road was
fragrant under his heel, and a light wind stirred the blueness of the
sea. On the beach below two grizzled men of restful habit were
endeavouring to make an old boat waterproof with red and green paint.
A long figure approaching slowly from the opposite direction broke into a
pleasant smile as he drew near and quickened his pace to meet him.
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