A sudden chill came over his ardor; the hand that had gripped hers so passionately felt all at once limp and discouraged.
"Are you serious?"
"Absolutely! I have made up my mind to this for a long time!"
"It isn't so easy," he said slowly.
"All the better!" she replied enthusiastically. "It'll show we have the courage of our convictions! That's what you believe in, too, isn't it?"
"H'm—yes."
The conversation suddenly dropped. He began to stare out of the window, pulling at his short mustache, while Dodo, shrunk in the corner, was choking with laughter. When they arrived at Miss Pim's, she could no longer contain herself. He looked up suddenly, detecting her laughter, furious.
"What!"
"Oh, Harrigan Blood!" she cried, between spells of laughter. "What a chance you have missed—and you such a clever man!"
"You were making fun of me; you didn't mean it!" he cried angrily.