She thought
awhile about the "blind for sacrifice," and in the second chapter found
words that meant something to her: "My covenant was with him of life and
peace." Life and peace! Peace! Had she ever known anything that was not
peace?
Before she had taken the astronomy into her hands again the door opened,
as if under protest of some kind, and Morris stood on the threshold,
looking at her with hesitation in his attitude.
"Come in," she invited, smiling at his attitude.
"But you don't want to talk."
"No; I have to study awhile. But you will not disturb; we have studied
often enough together for you to know how I study."
"I know! Not a word in edgewise."
Nevertheless he came to the arm-chair he had occupied last night and sat
down.
"Did you know the master gave me leave to take as many of his books as I
wanted? He says a literary sailor is a novelty."
"All his books are in boxes in the trunk room on the second floor."
"I know it. I am going up to look at them. I wish you could read his
letters. He urges me to live among men, not among books; to live out in
the world and mix with men and women; to live a man's life, and not a
hermit's!"
"Is he a hermit?"
"Rather. Will, Captain Will, is a man out among men; no hermit or student
about him; but he has read 'Captain Cook's Voyages' with zest and asked
me for something else, so I gave him 'Mutineers of the Bounty' and he did
have a good time over that. Captain Will will miss me when I'm promoted
to be captain.
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