"The boat will stand it," Peter protested.
"It's not that," said Lady Mary. "Let us stay a while in this open place."
Her tone arrested him. It was urgent and entreating. He dropped the sail into the boat, and they sat silent for a time. Lady Mary was blaming her weakness. Why did she not at once signal for that brief run over the little span of water between them and the fleet? It would take her to the duty she had accepted. Her holiday was finished.
Peter misread the entreaty in her voice.
"You do not want to go back?" he said.
"Not at once."
"You, too, find all that less inspiring than it seems?" He waved his hand towards the people they had left.
"This is better, for a time," she answered evasively.
"You still believe in all that?" He looked towards the lighted masts, his face troubled and perplexed.