There was at least one other pair of eyes watching the trim barque,
as her unfurled canvas caught the breeze and she sped away like a
graceful gull. To my sister Jessie, whom, after school, I found
sitting by the little pier at the Anchor Close, the vessel seemed
to be carrying away one who had suddenly awakened in her a new
interest in life. Captain Gordon had spoken but little with her, he
was still but a stranger, but so seldom did she have speech with
any man, that this meeting with one so brave and handsome as the
captain of the Lydia naturally made a deep impression upon her.
I should not, however, have remarked anything unusual in
Jessie--except perhaps that she was less active with her
fingers--had not my mother, who came out to wash some dishes in the
sea, taken notice of my sister's vacant eyes.
"One would fancy, Jessie," said my mother--"one would fancy that
there was no wind out yonder that you send so many sighs to fill
the captain's sails. What like a man is he?"
"Dinna ask such questions, mother," said Jessie. "I saw him only in
the gloaming. His voice was like the sighing of the waves and his
eyes were like the seal's. Ah! he'll not come back again to
Stromness, never again;" and as Jessie gave another sigh the ship
disappeared behind the Ness.
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