"Yes, I did!" he exclaimed. "Out in the Gray Water, swimming like a dog. That was yesterday afternoon. It's a scarce creature here. I'll tell you what, Kathleen; we'll take our luncheon and go out and spend the day watching for it."
"No," she said, drying her hands on her handkerchief, "I can't spend every minute of the day with you. Ask some other woman."
"What other woman?" She was gazing out at the sunlit ripples. A little unquiet thrill leaped through her veins, but she went on carelessly:
"Take some pretty woman out with you. There are several here——"
"Pretty woman," he repeated. "Do you think that's the only reason I want you to come?"
"Only reason? What a silly thing to say, Scott. I am not a pretty woman to you—in that sense——"
"You are the prettiest I ever saw," he said, looking at her; and again the unquiet thrill ran like lightning through her veins. But she only laughed carelessly and said:
"Oh, of course, Geraldine and I expect our big brother to say such things."
"It has nothing to do with Geraldine or with brothers," he said doggedly. She strove to laugh, caught his gaze, and, discountenanced, turned toward the stream.
"We can cross on the stepping stones," she suggested. And after a moment: "Are you coming?"