"You had better have left her alone," said he, sharply. "I wonder you hadn't more sense than to take up with a girl like that."
Max fired up indignantly.
"Like what? There's nothing wrong with the girl—nothing whatever. Surely her behavior to-night showed you that."
"Her behavior!" said Dudley, mockingly. "Do you mean her behavior to me, or to you?"
"Both. It was that of a modest, straightforward girl."
"Very straightforward—to me. Very modest to you. But I would not waste too much time over her virtues if I were you."
"I don't want to waste any," replied Max, shortly. "I don't see how we can shake her off, since she has offered to go back to the wharf with us. But I shall only be alone with her for the few minutes you leave us here. Or, better still, I'll go with you, and wait while you see your friend."
"What friend?"
"I thought you said you had an appointment with some one, and were going to put him off."
"Oh, yes. Well, let us go to him now."