“No, I haven’t even the title esquire, which, I understand, all American citizens possess.”
“Oh, you’ll do. Now, I propose that Mr. Buel take his choice of the four bunks, and that we raffle for the rest.”
When Buel reached the deck out of this pandemonium, he looked around for another citizen of the United States, but she was not there. He wondered if she were reading his book, and how she liked it.
ChapterIV
Next morning Mr. Buel again searched the deck for the fair American, and this time he found her reading his book, seated very comfortably in her deck chair. The fact that she was so engaged put out of Buel’s mind the greeting he had carefully prepared beforehand, and he stood there awkwardly, not knowing what to say. He inwardly cursed his unreadiness, and felt, to his further embarrassment, that his colour was rising. He was not put more at his ease when Miss Jessop looked up at him coldly, with a distinct frown on her pretty face.
“Mr. Buel, I believe?” she said pertly.
“I—I think so,” he stammered.