And she thought of the stubborn Viscount Merrivale as she
said it.
There was a friendly regret at her departure written in the man's eyes as
he opened the door for her, and with a sudden girlish impulse she paused.
"Why don't you come and smoke your cigar in the punt?" she said.
He glanced irresolutely over his shoulder at the other two men who were
discussing some political problem with much absorption.
With a curious desire to have her way with him, the girl waited with a
little laugh.
"Come!" she said softly. "You can't be interested in British politics."
He looked at her with his friendly, silent smile, and followed her out.
* * * * *
"Isn't it heavenly?" breathed Hilary, as she lay back on the velvet
cushions and watched the man's strong figure bend to the punt-pole.
"I think it is Heaven, Miss St. Orme," he answered in a hushed voice.
The sun had scarcely set in a cloudless shimmer of rose, and, sailing up
from the east, a full moon cast a rippling, silvery pathway upon the
mysterious water.
The girl drew a long sigh of satisfaction, then laughed a little.
"What a shame to make you work after dinner!" she said.
She saw his smile in the moonlight.
"Do you call this work?" She seemed to hear a faint ring of amusement in
the slowly-uttered question.
"You are very strong," she said almost involuntarily.
Pages:
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249