“Privately she thinks that’s a pretty large order,” Dan decided.
Slowly Tamea sipped a glass of light white wine and pecked, without enthusiasm, at a lamb chop. She sighed again.
“I am very tired, Dan,” she said wearily. “I cannot eat more. I would sleep.”
Dan nodded to Julia, who set her tray on the sideboard and stood prepared to escort her charge to bed. Tamea rose, walked around to Dan’s chair, put her arms around his neck and drew his head toward her until her cheek rested against his.
“You are a good father and kind. I shall love you, chéri,” she said softly. “You will kiss your little girl good night? No? But, yes, I demand it, mon père. There, that is better. . . . Good night. In the morning I will be brave; I will not be sad and oppress this household with my sorrows.”
She kissed him. It was not a mere peck but it was undoubtedly filial, and Dan indeed was grateful in a full realization of this.
“Good night, Tamea, dear child,” he said, and watched Julia lead her away.
He was still watching her as she crossed the entrance hall to the foot of the stairs, when the door of the butler’s pantry squeaked very slightly. Dan turned. Sooey Wan’s nose was at the aperture, and one of his slant eyes was bent appreciatively upon Dan.
“Get out,” Dan cried. “What are you spying for, you outrageous heathen?”
“Velly nice. Captain’s girl velly nice. Heap nice kissee, eh? You bet! Velly nice!”