“Outrageous? Presently you will be calling me Argo-naughty,” said Charley. [This is too bad! I never made one in my life. Chs. F.]
Alice had purposed looking indignant for two or three consecutive seconds, but surprised by this totally unexpected sally, she burst out laughing. She had opened her batteries on the enemy, but, by ceasing to fire, she had revealed the exhaustion of her ammunition; and he, so far from being stampeded, showed symptoms of an advance. As a prudent captain, all that was left her was to retire. She took the seat next the prow. The enemy seized the vacated position.
“That seat is very rickety.”
“So I perceive,” remarked the enemy, rising and advancing.
“Oh, but there is not room on this for two. Go back to the stern.” And she threw out skirmishers.
The now exultant foe grasped one of the skirmishers in both his: “You will forgive me?”
“Oh, I suppose so, if you will go back to your seat, and behave yourself. Let go my hand.”
“You have promised it to me.”
“Yes, but indeed, Mr. Frobisher, the girls on the piazza—”
“The piazza is nearly a hundred yards away, bless its heart!”