Richard nodded good-naturedly, as if that did not matter.
“He said he would jump over the side,” she shivered at the thought, “if mother pestered him again. I told her to look out. But she laughed at me. Does she know about this?”
“No.”
“Are you going to tell her?”
“I can’t make up my mind. Not just now, at any rate. She’s pretty spent. Something has happened lately to take the spark out of her.”
“Yes; I’ve noticed that. She has aged frightfully.”
“That quarrel on the deck upset her. She’ll get over it. We must wait. Meanwhile I shall not let this determined youth get out of my sight.... I’m sorry,” he added, as a thought occurred to him, “but you see now that I must go on with you to ‘Red Jacket.’”
“Has mother asked you yet?”
“Yes; this afternoon—and I accepted.... Do you mind?”
“Yes.” She looked up at him frankly. “You like the truth. Yes, I do mind; but this thing of Walter’s has scared me.... I’m sick at the thought of it.... I see that you must come with us.... My only fear now is—is that you won’t.”