My companion stared out to sea with a faint smile on her lips. I flung out an arm with a gesture of despair.
"Oh, if you knew how sick I am of the girl about town, the girl of to-day, who won't be natural herself, and won't let you be natural either, who is always bored, and who has no use for anyone who isn't forever making mock love to her, or—Why on earth can't a man tell a woman he likes her company, and mean it, without the woman thinking he wants to kiss her, or marry her, or something?"
I broke off and looked at her.
"Go on," she said. "You interest me."
"Oh, Heavens," I said falteringly. "Why have you got such big eyes?"
At this, to my discomfiture, she broke into peals of merriment.
"Before you looked at me like that, I was really enjoying your company without wanting to kiss you."
"Steady!"
"Besides your eyes, there's your—Look here, it isn't fair."
"That'll do. I'll race you to that rock out there."