"Of course," returned miss red and green, sneeringly. "I hate that girl, she puts on such airs. And travelling alone, in charge of the captain and clerk, shows what she is plainly. There, look! The bait has taken,—Mr. Gilbert is caught!" and the rainbow ladies joined in a loud laugh, as a fine-looking gentleman approached the fair, abstracted girl, and accosted her.
"Always flying your crowd of admirers," said he, "and hiding in some sly nook. Please tell me some of your pretty thoughts, as we glide past this lovely scenery, Miss Orville."
"The recital of my poor thoughts would not repay you for listening," said the young lady, with a pleasant smile.
"Now I may consider myself dismissed, I suppose," remarked the gentleman; "but if you don't tolerate me, you'll have to some other of my sex; for naught so charms us contradictory human bipeds as indifference to our gracious attentions, and we always pay our most assiduous court where it receives the smallest consideration."
"Well, if you choose to remain and entertain me with your company—" commenced the fair girl.
"I can do so, but you prefer to be alone," interrupted the young man; "is not that what you would say?"
"As you have been pleased to give expression to my unexpressed thoughts, I'll abide by your decision," she remarked quietly.
The gentleman bade her good-evening, and walked away, looking somewhat chagrined by his easy dismissal. On the fore-deck he found the clerk of the boat.
"I've just come from Miss Orville," he said, falling into step with the latter. "You are a lucky fellow, Mr. Clerk, to have such a lovely being entrusted to your care."
"She is a sweet young lady, indeed," said the clerk. "I was never trusted with a charge in which I felt more interest."