'You look intolerably busy,' he said to her, discontentedly.
'Six dresses, ten cloaks, eight petticoats to cut out by luncheon time,' she answered demurely, with a countenance of most Dorcas-like seriousness, 'and if I spoil them I shall have to pay for the stuff!'
He shrugged his shoulders and looked at her, smiling, still master of himself and of his words.
'And no music—none at all? Perhaps you don't know that I too can accompany?'
'You play!' she exclaimed, incredulous.
'Try me.'
The light of his fine black eyes seemed to encompass her. She moved backward a little, shaking her head. 'Not this morning,' she said. 'Oh dear, no, not this morning! I am afraid you don't know anything about tacking or fixing, or the abominable time they take. Well, it could hardly be expected. There is nothing in the world'—and she shook her serge vindictively—'that I hate so much!'
'And not this afternoon, for Robert and I go fishing. But this evening?' he said, detaining her.
She nodded lightly, dropped her lovely eyes with a sudden embarrassment, and went away with lightning quickness.