"And as Miss Merriwayne's rather special representative at this 188 time," added John Burnarde, "I refuse to leave the room while she remains!"
"Oh, I like you!" said Bretton. "I've always rather liked you!
But whether I did or not!" he crisped, "you've got to stay! You and Miss Merriwayne, and Daphne, and myself!" With a toss of his white hair he flung a message to the master of the house- boat. "Sorry to bully your guests so, Kaire!" he said. "But not knowing the plan of your boat, and being too formal to rummage around very much," he added dryly, "this cabin seemed somehow the surest place for a rather private conversation. . . . Shall you still remain with us as our host?"
"I certainly shall!" snapped Kaire.
"You are perfectly welcome," smiled Jaffrey Bretton. "And you notice, perhaps—that the engine has not started?"
"I notice only too damned well," said Kaire, "that the engine has not started!"
Out of the shadowy curve of Sheridan Kaire's jealous arm Daphne sprang suddenly forward.
"Oh, Old-Dad!" she besought him, "please—Please—don't make 189 such a fuss! What's the good of it? What's the use? If I'm bad, I'm bad! And—unless I'm going crazy, too—what is there left but fun?"
"But you see you're all wrong," smiled her father. "You're not 'bad' at all! Without any question whatsoever you're the goodest person here!"
"Oh—Old-Dad!" scoffed Daphne.