"'But, my child,' I said, 'this is extraordinary!'
"'Oh, don't 'my child' me,' she retorted in a passion. 'I thought you understood.'
"Well, I suppose I had understood in a vague sort of way, but I certainly had not credited her with any active designs of this sort. And while I sat beside her reflecting upon the precarious nature of a bachelor's existence, I found she had glanced round upon me again, her expression at once critical and derisive. She saw through my sentimental interest in her affairs. She knew that at the first signal of danger to my own peace and position I would sheer off, regretfully but swiftly. Of course she was perfectly right. The mere thought of her father and his mangy lieutenant was sufficient. She had so much against her. It was horrible. As I sat there counting up the handicaps which Fate had imposed upon her I was aware of that critical and derisive smile regarding me over her shoulder. And I felt ashamed. I had an uneasy feeling that she was thinking of my severely paternal manner when I put my arm round her and made her take my address. She thought more of young Siddons, no doubt, more even of Nikitos, who was willing to marry her without knowing her secret, than she did of me. That is one of the penalties of remaining a super in the play. The leading lady regards you with critical derision or she doesn't regard you at all.
"'Let us suppose,' I suggested after a silence, 'that I do understand. Then why do you turn down young Siddons?'
"She made a sound and a gesture of impatience.
"'Oh, because of any amount of reasons,' she said, looking out to sea again. 'A lot I'd see of him if he knew.'
"'Doesn't he? He told me you had had a bad time.' She shrugged her shoulders.
"'I told him some sort of tale, just to pass the time. I'm not such a fool. You can tell him if you like,' she laughed shortly. 'I knew a girl in the office who was engaged. She told him one day, after making him promise to be her friend, and he nearly killed her, and left her.'
"'Young Siddons wouldn't do that,' I asserted.
"'No, he's a gentleman,' she sneered. 'He'd sail away. A handy profession, a sailor's!'