This speech was a disappointment to Miss Caggett, who was in hopes that she would have called it an "unearthly, outlandish, savage hole, a gaol!" And then she would have imparted this opinion to the settlement at large,—and such an opinion would have scored a point against Miss Helen.
"Oh," she replied, "you won't think it delightful always. It's frightful in the monsoons, that is in the rains, you know. And how do you like the people?"
"I scarcely know them yet."
"Well, at least you know Mr. Quentin," eyeing her sharply.
"Yes, I have known him an hour," she replied with a laugh.
"He is nice enough," speaking with assumed nonchalance, "but as you can see, awfully conceited, isn't he?"
Helen did not fall into the trap; if she had, Miss Caggett would have lost no time in giving Apollo the benefit of Miss Denis's impressions with regard to him!
She only said, "Is he?" and, leaning her elbows on the wooden railing that fenced in the edge of the cliff, looked down upon the sea.
"A great many men are here from Aberdeen and the out-stations," proceeded Miss Caggett with a backward jerk of her head, "but they did not come over altogether to see you."
"I should hope not indeed," returned Helen, reddening.