“How did—I can’t tell you!” she panted. “Let me go! Please, let go!”
“Oh, I forgot.” He released her, suddenly confused and awkward. “I didn’t mean—I—I’m sorry.”
She started as if to pass, then stopped.
“What did you want him for?” she asked, with a strange mingling of timidity and reproach. “Why are you after him?”
“I’m not,” said Miles. “It’s your friend Florio—”
“My friend!” she whispered scornfully. “Then they are together!”
Through his excitement Miles had become aware that the sound of oars drew toward them down river, close to shore. The rowing stopped, just below; thin ice crackled, under the feet of some one tramping down toward the water; and the surly voice of Abram called from the stream,—
“That you, cap’n?”
From the shore Tony answered impatiently:
“Rather—with both feet in the mud. Stir your stumps, don’t keep me freezing here!”