At length Miss Van Tyne changed her tactics and grew quite
oblivious to Ackland's presence in the house; but she found him
apparently too indifferent to observe the fact. She then permitted
one of her several admirers to become devoted; Ackland did not
offer the protest of even a glance. He stood, as it were, just
where she had left him, ready for an occasional chat, stroll, or
excursion, if the affair came about naturally and without much
effort on his part. She found that she could neither induce him to
seek her nor annoy him by an indifference which she meant should
be more marked than his own.
Some little time after there came a windy day when the surf was so
heavy that there were but few bathers. Ackland was a good swimmer,
and took his plunge as usual. He was leaving the water when Miss
Van Tyne ran down the beach and was about to dart through the
breakers in her wonted fearless style.
"Be careful," he said to her; "the undertow is strong, and the man
who has charge of the bathing is ill and not here. The tide is
changing--in fact, running out already, I believe.
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