"Er—you see," Bobby answered wriggling, "I knew very well that Eliz—Miss Radnor would be all right. She is—er—very competent."
And Elizabeth laughed at him and dropped a curtsey. "Thank you," she said.
Bobby was struggling with his desire to smile and with his dignity.
"I've got to get back somehow," he said. "Hello, there's Ogilvie." Ogilvie had been standing in plain sight at the top of the bluff. "He can take me—that is, if you can spare him." He beckoned to him, and Ogilvie came down. "You'll have to take me out, Jack."
Ogilvie grinned and saluted, and they started off together. But they had gone only a few steps when Bobby turned.
"I almost forgot to say good-bye."
He smiled unhappily, and was turning back, but Elizabeth ran to him and held out her hand.
"You can be on your dignity if you like, Bobby," she whispered, not so low but that I heard it, "but I'm not going to be. Good-bye, and thank you."
And Bobby had taken the hand that she held out. He held it for a long time, but said nothing that I could hear, but only looked. And he relinquished her hand—actually flung it from him—and strode away after Ogilvie. And Elizabeth came back to us quietly, but her eyes shone and she was smiling.