She looked at him with a little defiance in her eyes . `` I suppose you think that terrible . '' `` I think many dogs are much more lovable -- and worthy of love -- than many people , '' said Alan , laughing . How childlike she was in some ways ! That trace of defiance -- it was so like a child who expected to be scolded for some wrong attitude of mind . And yet there were moments when she looked the tall proud queen . Sometimes , when the path grew narrow , she walked before him , her hand on the dog 's head . Alan liked this , since it left him free to watch admiringly the swinging grace of her step and the white curves of her neck beneath the thick braid of hair , which today was wound about her head . When she dropped back beside him in the wider spaces , he could only have stolen glances at her profile , delicately , strongly cut , virginal in its soft curves , childlike in its purity . Once she looked around and caught his glance ; again she flushed , and something strange and exultant stirred in Alan 's heart . It was as if that maiden blush were the involuntary , unconscious admission of some power he had over her -- a power which her hitherto unfettered spirit had never before felt . The cold indifference he had seen in her face at their first meeting was gone , and something told him it was gone forever . When they came in sight of Four Winds they saw two people walking up the road from the harbour and a few further steps brought them face to face with Captain Anthony Oliver and his old housekeeper . The Captain 's appearance was a fresh surprise to Alan . He had expected to meet a rough , burly sailor , loud of voice and forbidding of manner . Instead , Captain Anthony was a tall , well-built man of perhaps fifty . His face , beneath its shock of iron-grey hair , was handsome but wore a somewhat forbidding expression , and there was something in it , apart from line or feature , which did not please Alan . He had no time to analyze this impression , for Lynde said hurriedly , `` Father , this is Mr. Douglas . He has just done me a great service . '' She briefly explained her accident ; when she had finished , the Captain turned to Alan and held out his hand , a frank smile replacing the rather suspicious and contemptuous scowl which had previously overshadowed it .
`` I am much obliged XXXXX you , Mr. Douglas , '' he said cordially .
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