"You met her privately?"
"Yes; why should that astonish you?"
"Do tell me what she is like—what she said to you—did she speak to you?"
"She is a very handsome girl, with splendid hair and eyes, and the most charming manner. What amused me chiefly was the half-maternal way in which she talked to me—who might have been her father,—and the airs of profound experience which she quite unconsciously gave herself. Then all the time she was ready to be amused by the tiniest things; indeed, it was quite a pleasure to sit near her and watch the comfortable, self-satisfied, almost childish way in which she delighted herself with everything."
Will spoke quite warmly; his companion was silent for some time afterwards.
"Why are you so quiet this morning, Dove?" he asked.
"Am I more than usually quiet?" she said.
"Indeed," he continued, without taking further notice of the matter, "I was vexed with myself for not coming down last evening. The fact is, I may not have many Saturday afternoons down at the old place before I leave again. I am thinking of going to Honduras——"
"To Honduras!" she repeated, rather faintly; "why should you go to Honduras?"
"They want to sink some Artesian wells about——"