"And one or two unsuccessful ones, too," laughed Jim. "But I really think, Miss Grant, that Carleton's got his pet dragon into pretty good training now, both as a land and water and air animal. I shouldn't wonder if we'd see something worth seeing nest week at Nice?—and it will be new on this coast, for there've been no hydro-aeroplanes tried here before."
"Next week?" echoed Mary. "Shan't I see anything now? I thought Mr. Carleton meant to go up in the air to-day."
"I hadn't thought of it, but I will if you like. That is, I'll try," said Carleton, modestly.
"I—oh, how I should love to go with you!" Mary exclaimed. "Can you carry people?"
"One passenger at a time, yes. You wouldn't really like it, would you?" he asked, flushing under the compliment of her trust in him, and admiring her pluck. "You don't mean that you'd go up with me?"
"I would if you'd take me." Her eyes were shining once more. "It would be—like all one's most marvellous dreams come true."
"You wouldn't be afraid?"
"Oh, no, not with you."
This was delicious flattery. Carleton promptly fell in love with Mary. Not to have done so would have been base ingratitude. No woman had ever paid him so great a compliment. He had thought her bewilderingly pretty before. Now she was the most beautiful woman in the world.
"You're the bravest girl on earth!" he exclaimed, ardently.