"I didn't introduce you," she said, smiling, "because I only know your Christian name; and I'm not sure of that."
"Rick! Rick Halmar," he replied with a blush which took him by surprise; for he was not as a rule self-conscious.
"Rick?" she echoed curiously.
"Eric. My father was a Norwegian. But it was a boshy name and the fellows on the Britannia called me 'Little by Little'--after the book, you know."
She laughed. "A very inappropriate name, Mr. Halmar. You must be six feet."
He shook his head. "Five feet eleven and three-quarters. It's too big for a sailor. You get in the way of the ropes and things."
"Not too big for a man--but listen! the professor is overcome already; how delightful!"
In good sooth he was actually reduced to the position of listener, an isolated assertion of interest being all the speech allowed him as Miss Willina waxed eloquent over the crass superstitions of the islanders and her own select beliefs.
Rick's face grew brimful of smiles.
"Aunt Will is as bad as the best, herself. Why, the other day I carved out a sort of devil,--a thing they worship in the Caribbees,--and she was in quite a taking because it was left out on a harp,--that's a Viking's tomb, Lady Maud. She has some rigmarole about 'tribute to the dead,' their sending back things to work evil to the living. But, do you know, Lady Maud, it's awfully rum, but I couldn't find the thing when I went to look for it yesterday morning."