And the light winds that awoke blew
murmurous music, so sharply and sweetly did that keen foliage divide
the air.
Having gazed their fill on the morning around them, they returned to
breakfast, and after breakfast they went down to the river. They stood
on the bank, over one of the deepest pools, in the bottom of which the
pebbles glimmered brown. Kate gazed into it abstracted, fascinated,
swinging her neckerchief in her hand. Something fell into the water.
"Oh!" she cried, "what shall I do? It was my mother's."
The words were scarcely out of her mouth when Alec was in the water.
Bubbles rose and broke as he vanished. Kate did not scream, but stood,
pale, with parted lips, staring into the pool. With a boiling and
heaving of the water, he rose triumphant, holding up the brooch. Kate
gave a cry and threw herself on the grass. When Alec reached her, she
lay sobbing, and would not lift her head.
"You are very unkind, Alec," she said at last, looking up. "What will
your mother say?"
And she hid her face and began to sob afresh.
"It was your mother's brooch," answered Alec.
"Yes, yes; but we could have got it out somehow."
"No other how.--I would have done that for any girl.
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