She went on with her reading, ignoring him, and he stood there not knowing how to get away. When he pulled himself together, after a few moments’ silence, and was about to depart, wondering at the caprice of womankind, she looked up again, and said icily—
“Why don’t you ask me to walk with you? Do you think you have no duties, merely because you are on shipboard?”
“It isn’t a duty, it is a pleasure, if you will come with me. I was afraid I had offended you in some way.”
“You have. That is why I want to walk with you. I wish to give you a piece of my mind, and it won’t be pleasant to listen to, I can assure you. So there must be no listener but yourself.”
“Is it so serious as that?”
“Quite. Assist me, please. Why do you have to be asked to do such a thing? I don’t suppose there is another man on the ship who would see a lady struggling with her rugs, and never put out his hand.”
Before the astonished young man could offer assistance the girl sprang to her feet and stood beside him. Although she tried to retain her severe look of displeasure, there was a merry twinkle in the corner of her eye, as if she enjoyed shocking him.
“I fear I am very unready.”
“You are.”
“Will you take my arm as we walk?”