“There you are quoting Miss Marsden,” he said, disapprovingly. “I don’t admire that cynical vein.”
“That reminds me,—I have a letter from her somewhere,” cried Nina, springing up. “Where did I put it? Merdyce gave it to me here at noon and I forgot to read it. Where, oh, where?” and she began ransacking the table, chairs, shelves, brackets, and even the nautical instruments.
At last she found it under the scrap-basket beside the table, and sat down on the floor for its perusal, uttering presently a joyful scream.
“What’s the matter?” asked her husband.
“They’re engaged, they’re engaged,—it was a case of love at first sight. Just what I wished and expected!”
“Who are engaged?”
“Miss Marsden and Captain Eversleigh. Oh, the darlings! What a fine couple they will make!”
“Everybody is falling in love but yourself, little Nina,” he remarked. “What a misfortune you can’t follow suit!”
“Don’t bother me—I want to finish this,” she responded, shaking off his hand from the top of her head.
As he continued to stroke her hair she bestowed a frown upon him. “You detestable Spaniard!”