“I shall never forget it as long as I live,” said Mr. Burton, who thought that the other was trying to make amends for his recent indiscretion.
“Oh, do tell me about it, Admiral Peters,” cried Mrs. Dutton.
“Surely Burton has told you that?” said Mr. Stiles.
“Never breathed a word of it,” said the widow, gazing somewhat reproachfully at the discomfited Mr. Burton.
“Well, tell it now, Burton,” said Mr. Stiles.
“You tell it better than I do, sir,” said the other.
“No, no,” said Mr. Stiles, whose powers of invention were not always to be relied upon. “You tell it; it’s your story.”
The widow looked from one to the other. “It’s your story, sir,” said Mr. Burton.
“No, I won’t tell it,” said Mr. Stiles. “It wouldn’t be fair to you, Burton. I’d forgotten that when I spoke. Of course, you were young at the time, still——”
“I done nothing that I’m ashamed of, sir,” said Mr. Burton, trembling with passion.