“'Oh, no, Cap'n! Oh, no!' she giggles. 'You mustn't be so serious on such a beautiful night as this. Let's talk about the moon.'
“'Drat the moon!' says Jonadab. 'Hettie, I—'
“'Oh, just see how beautiful the water looks! All shiny and—”
“'Drat the water, too! Hettie, what's the reason you don't want to talk serious with me? If that Tobe Loveland—'
“'Really, I don't see why you bring Mr. Loveland's name into the conversation. He is a perfect gentleman, generous and kind; and as for the way in which he runs that lovely car of his—'
“The Cap'n interrupted her. He ripped out somethin' emphatic.
“'Generous!' he snarls. ''Bout as generous as a hog in the feed trough, he is. And as for runnin' that pesky auto, if I'd demean myself to own one of them things, I'll bet my other suit I could run it better'n he does. If I couldn't, I'd tie myself to the anchor and jump overboard.'
“The way she answered showed pretty plain that she didn't believe him. 'Really?' she says. 'Do you think so? Good night, Jonadab.'
“I could hear her walkin' off acrost the piazza. He went after her. 'Hettie,' he says, 'you answer me one thing. Are you engaged to Tobe Loveland?'
“She laughed again, sort of teasin' and slow. 'Really,' says she, 'you are—Why, no, I'm not.'