"Really, Tom, he is so nice. I can't help myself. You haven't the slightest idea how it feels to have any one—any one like that—on the verge of being in love with you."
Takashima returned to them, and took his seat by the girl's side.
"To-night," he told her, "they are going to dance on deck. The band will play a concert for us."
Cleo smiled whimsically at his broken English, for, in spite of his long residence in America, he still tripped in his speech.
"Do you dance?" she asked, curiously.
"No! I like better to watch with you."
"But I dance," she put in, hastily.
Takashima's face fell. He looked at her so dejectedly that she laughed. "Life is so serious to you, is it not, Mr. Takashima? Every little thing is of moment."
He gravely agreed with her, looking almost surprised that she should consider this strange.