one o'clock before
`` I gave her my promise , and I 'll keep it , whatever they think . It will be my fault if anything goes wrong . I know , and they do n't ! '' It was one o'clock before the island was reached , for the row out took a long time , despite the fact that the amateur oarsmen were all fairly proficient at their work . Even the professor pulled with a will , while to see haughty Hector in his shirt sleeves , with his hair matted on his forehead , was indeed a novel experience . Arthur was stroke , and Mellicent sat in front and coached him in his duty , to the amusement of the company and his own unspeakable delight , and Eunice dabbled her hand in the water , and sent little showers of spray tossing up into the air . Every now and then , when Arthur made a reply to Eunice more professedly deferential than usual , her eyes met his , and they smiled at each other -- that smile of happy , mutual understanding which had grown common between them in the last few months .