The new life was good -- good -- but it could not go deep enough . And when you did not come I knew what was in my heart for you as well . '' * * * * * That night Nora lay beside her sisters in the tiny room that looked out on the harbour . The younger girls slept soundly , but Nora kept awake to listen to the laughter of the wind outside , and con over what she and Rob had said to each other . There was no blot on her happiness save a sorry wonder what the Camerons would say when they knew . `` They will think me ungrateful and fickle , '' she sighed . `` They do n't know that I ca n't help it even if I would . They will never understand . '' Nor did they . When Nora told them that she was going back to Racicot , they laughed at her kindly at first , treating it as the passing whim of a homesick girl . Later , when they came to understand that she meant it , they were grieved and angry . There were scenes of pleading and tears and reproaches . Nora cried bitterly in Mrs. Cameron 's arms , but stood rock-firm . She could never go back to them -- never . They appealed to Nathan Shelley finally , but he refused to say anything . `` It ca n't be altered , '' he told them . `` The sea has called her and she 'll listen to naught else . I 'm sorry enough for the girl 's own sake . It would have been better for her if she could have cut loose from it all and lived your life , I dare say . But you 've made a fair trial and it 's of no use .
I know what 's in her heart -- it was XXXXX mine once -- and I 'll say no word of rebuke to her .
as at beside for if in of on that to