It was impossible to deny the fact in face of the evidence. Without answering he detached the sinker and continued to reel in his line. She allowed the Silver Moth to drift into the bushes. He called her attention to this and she grew very red in the face.
It was quite clear to her now that he had enticed her down here upon a pretext. She grew embarrassed out of all proportion to any import she saw in the ruse. She would have been glad if Aunt Philomela had come along.
“There is you and Carl and myself,” he repeated, as though this were a sort of apology for his act.
She hastily reeled in her own line. The Princess watched her anxiously.
“Well?” she faltered.
Barnes took a step towards her. At that moment he heard the approach of someone from behind. He looked about.
“Why,” he exclaimed, “here’s Carl now!”
She almost dropped her pole.
“We’re fishing,” Barnes hastened to explain, in the hope of warding off the commonplace query which he thought he detected upon Carl’s lips. But the remark the latter made was anything but commonplace.
“I hurried down here to say good-by to you,” he explained.