Tom was a sight to behold between confusion, distress, and his superhuman efforts to be calm.
"I'll bring you twenty," said he, recklessly.
"Oh, that would be overpowering," laughed Elsie. "Good-bye. I'm sure you'll look touching when you are seasick."
"He! he!" giggled Hawkins, as well as he could for the cane.
Tom turned on him like a tiger.
"You'll ruin your digestion if you laugh so much over that tough meal," said he, and for once Tom had the laugh on his side.
"Good-bye, Miss Elsie," he continued, determined to get away while he could still preserve a decent show of composure; "good-bye."
"Good-bye, Tom Fuller, good-bye!"
She flung some of the flowers she was holding, at him. Tom caught them and hurried out of the room, pressing the fragrant blossoms against his waistcoat, and smothering a mortal pang.
Elizabeth followed him into the hall, but their parting was a brief one, spoken amid bursts of laughter from within, and in a broken voice by the warm hearted young fellow.