"I never have!" I said earnestly, then was obliged to join in her delighted laughter.
"I knew you had not, Euan. But had I asked that question of your friend, Mr. Boyd, and had he answered me as you did, I might have thought he lied."
I said nothing.
"He is at our house every day, and every moment when he is not on duty," she remarked.
"What gallant man would not do the like, if privileged?" I said lightly.
"Lana talks with him too much. Angelina and I have kept our rooms, as I wrote you, truly dreading a stroke of the sun. But Lana! Lord! She was up and out and about with her lieutenant; and he had an Oneida to take them both boating—and then he had the canoe only, and paddled it himself.... They were gone too long to suit me," she added curtly.
"When?"
"Every night. I wish I knew where they go in their canoe. But I can do nothing with Lana.... You, perhaps, might say a friendly word to Mr. Boyd—if you are on that footing with him—to consider Lana's reputation a little more, and his own amusement a little less."
I said slowly: "Whatever footing I am on with him, I will say that to him, if you wish."
"I don't wish you to provoke him."