'You mean how much did I get off?' said she.
'I believe I'm all in rags. And that elephant of a man bumped me against every person in the room.'
Here the Admiral came along—bustling as was his wont, talking to everybody at the same time, and invariably putting his hand on the shoulder of those whom he knew best, to give effect to his speech.
'Well, well, my girl,' he said, 'how did you like your partner? Did he amuse you? Did he compliment you on the roses in your cheeks—ah, that's the Brighton air, that is.'
'Oh, if you mean Lieutenant King,' said Nan, without any hesitation or embarrassment, 'I think he is very amusing indeed—very. And very clever, too, is he not?
'Oh yes, he's a smart young fellow—a smart young fellow is Frank King.
We've had an eye on him for some time back.'
'I should say now,' remarked Nan, with a wise air, 'that he had got his
Three Ones?'
The Admiral stared at her, and then burst out laughing.
'You young impertinence! What do you know about the Three Ones? He had got his certificates before he was one-and-twenty. But here, I will tell you something.'
He took her a step aside.