"Mr. Selborne arrives to-morrow night. Let some one go up for his luggage. Half past ten."
"Yes, ma'am."
Mrs. Selborne and I walked back to the hotel and stood on the lawn talking for a little while before going to dress for dinner.
"To-morrow will be our last cruise, I am afraid," she said, looking across the Leas. "I hope it will be fine."
"I hope so."
"It would really be a terrible disappointment to me if it were not. I would go—Ah, now I am being tempted to talk foolishly."
She turned from me a little defiantly. She was certainly very attractive, and naturally fell into poses which showed her off to the best advantage. A man, sitting on the lawn, paused in the act of taking a cigarette from his case to look at her. His interest pleased me. I was human, and it flattered my vanity to know that I counted with this woman.
"What desperate thing were you going to say?" I asked.
"You will laugh at me."
"I am more likely to match you in desperation."