“And he has already made me acquainted with them,” she laughed softly. “Kolo and Haidah are the girls. They are sweet, and I love them. I had breakfast with them this morning long before you were awake.”
“The deuce you say! And that is why you were not at table? And the morning before—”
“You noticed my absence?” she asked demurely.
“It was difficult for me not to see an empty chair. On second thought, I think the young engineer called my attention to it by wondering if you were ill.”
“Oh!”
“He is very much interested in you, Miss Standish. It amuses me to see him torture the corners of his eyes to look at you. I have thought it would be only charity and good-will to change seats with him.”
“In which event, of course, your eyes would not suffer.”
“Probably not.”
“Have they ever suffered?”
“I think not.”