"Sir Dudley, please don't talk to me in this way. I," and she gulped down an inclination to burst into tears, "I—I don't like it!"
Then with a desperate snatch at her ebbing self-possession, she added: "Will you be so kind as to signal for the boat?"
"Horrified! frightened! affronted! easy to see she's new to the situation," he said to himself. "I must go slow, chi va sano—va lontano. I've been a bit of an ass, but the sunset and the Angelus were too much for me."
"You know I wouldn't offend you for the whole world," he murmured, as in strained self-consciousness they awaited the boat. "Only forgive me for this once! One never can tell. Most girls like admiration, and kisses—I see you are different."
Nancy made no reply, but picked up her red Lugano umbrella, and got into the boat, without a word.
"She has taken the little scene seriously," he said to himself, as he looked at her set profile, and it was now his turn to be uneasy, and alarmed! Supposing she were to go and lodge a long complaint with Aunty De Wolfe? He must make his peace before they returned to the hotel. Accordingly on their way there, with all the eloquence, cleverness, and guile of a well-experienced diplomatist in emotion, he pleaded with his companion, for forgiveness; his misery and regrets appeared to be so acute, that they touched her sensitive feelings, and cooled her indignation. How could she withstand, the tears that stood in his wonderful eyes?
Notwithstanding this patched up peace, Mrs. De Wolfe might have noticed a certain constraint, between her young companions that evening, and there was no singing,—but as it happened, the mind of their chaperon was occupied with a recent interview, and the old lady was happily unconscious of any cloud.