"No, Mr. Esthwaite has done that. The embarrassment is yours."
"I am in no embarrassment; you are mistaken. By what right do you say that Mr. Esthwaite has sent these to me?"
"Because he sent them to me," said Eleanor. "It is the same thing."
"That is dutiful, and loyal, and all that sort of thing," said Mr. Rhys, helping himself to another grape, and looking with his keen eyes and imperturbable gravity at Eleanor. Perhaps he liked to see the scarlet bloom he could so easily call up in her cheeks, which was now accompanied with a little impatient glance at him. "Nevertheless, I do not consider myself to be within the scope of the gift. The disposition of it remains with you. I do not like the responsibilities of other people's wealth to rest on my shoulders."
"But this fruit is different from what we have on the island; is there not something you would like to have done with it?"
"I should like you to give me one bunch of grapes—to be chosen by yourself."
He looked on, with a satisfied expression of face, while Eleanor's fingers separated and overhauled the fruit till she had got a bunch to her mind; and stood still in his place to let her bring it to him. Then took possession of her and the grapes at once, neglecting the latter however entirely, to consider her.
"What would you like to have done with the rest, Rowland?" said
Eleanor, while her face glowed under his caresses and examination.
"This is a very becoming dress you have on!"
"I did not know you noticed ladies' dresses."