“Humph—perhaps.”
“And look here, young man, if you don’t wish to develop a row you had better be a little more attentive.”
“I should be attentive enough, but your sister seems to prefer the attentions of the parson’s boy.”
“What, Beck? Oh, he’s nobody. Besides, he’ll be off to sea directly, and you’ll be married and have a family before he comes back. That is, if—”
“If? What do you mean?”
“The governor has not thrown you over, and Neil has not knocked your head off.”
“Propound, O, Sphinx. Read me the riddle.”
“I mean that if the governor sees you so attentive to Saxa, he’ll cry off, and if Neil notices it he will pitch into you. I should if I saw you hanging after Dana as you do after her sister.”
“Rubbish, man! A few civil words to a lady who rides well.”
“Sort of civil words the dad does not understand in his quiet, old-fashioned way. I suppose it is to be Isabel, is it not?”