★ V ★
As Neill rowed along with the lights of the village on his left, it was still only about nine o’clock and there was plenty of life in the place. He could see shadowy figures passing under the street lights, while the sounds of dogs barking, motor horns and male laughter from the porch of Longcope’s store reached his ears. Farther along he could hear the harsh sounds of canned music coming through the open windows of the moving-picture theater.
At Absalom’s Point he lay on his oars for a moment, debating whether it might not be better to row across the bay. It was a calm night and he could have made it in safety. Nobody would think of looking for Janet over there. But it was fifteen miles and he couldn’t possibly get back before daylight. Nor visit her there. No. Better the ship
