“Oh, Janet!” he shouted.
Donald shook an angry fist at his tormentor and sprang to the shelter of the trees. There was a thud of hoofs, a spattering of gravel, and the sound of creaking leather.
“What in the world are you doing here in that dress, Doug?” asked Janet.
“Janet,” said her brother in a low, mysterious voice, “I’ve got the fellow that tried to flirt with you yesterday; he’s in there.” He pointed to the bush. “The poor fellow is a confirmed flirt; has it in its worst form. I beg of you, Sister, be lenient, be merciful. He thinks you are a Greek goddess.” He tapped his forehead significantly.
Donald cursed the irrepressible youth’s sense of humour. If he could have reached the humorist at that moment he would have pitched him into the Inlet without compunction.
Janet eyed her brother with disapproval. “What are you talking about, Doug? Have you taken leave of your senses entirely?”
“I will bring forth the erring knight for you to censure,” rejoined her brother, bowing low in exaggerated deference. “Ho!” he shouted, “leave thy woodsy bower, Sir Don, the goddess awaits thee.”
Seething inwardly, Donald tried to appear dignified as he stepped to the road, but the attempt was a dismal failure. How could one approach anything like dignity when dressed in a pair of running trunks, a torn and frayed jersey, socks turned down over a pair of dirty tennis shoes, and without hat or coat? All this added to the fact that he faced a battery of two big brown eyes, possessed by a lovely girl immaculately dressed, who thought him a masher. The greatest actor in the world would fail to register dignity under such conditions. He had a confused remembrance of a jumble of words that went for a formal introduction. He felt his face hot, and knew he was blushing furiously, which did not add to his composure.
The girl looked down curiously, but not without interest, at the embarrassed young man.
Donald finally mustered courage to glance up at the face above him. The deep brown eyes regarding him held just a trace of humour. The full red lips were parted to show a flash of white, even teeth.