Wants to
make it interesting for the unfortunate passengers who are not good
sailors, I suppose. She's doing it, too. There's scarcely anyone on
deck.'
'Dear me! I thought we were having a dreadful storm. Is it raining?'
'No. It's a beautiful sunshiny day; without much wind either, in spite of
all this row.'
'I suppose you have had your breakfast long ago?'
'So long since that I am beginning to look forward with pleasant
anticipation to lunch.'
'Oh dear! I had no idea I was so late as that. Perhaps _you_ had
better scold me. Somebody ought to do it, and the steward seems a
little afraid.'
'You over-estimate my courage. I am a little afraid, too.'
'Then you _do_ think I deserve it?'
'I didn't say that, nor do I think it. I confess, however, that up to
this moment I felt just a trifle lonely.'
'Just a trifle! Well, that _is_ flattery. How nicely you English do turn
a compliment! Just a trifle!'
'I believe, as a race, we do not venture much into compliment making at
all. We leave that for the polite foreigner. He would say what I tried
to say a great deal better than I did, of course, but he would not mean
half so much.'
'Oh, that's very nice, Mr. Wentworth. No foreigner could have put it
nearly so well. Now, what about going on deck?'
'Anywhere, if you let me accompany you.'
'I shall be most delighted to have you. I won't say merely a trifle
delighted.'
'Ah! Haven't you forgiven that remark yet?'
'There's nothing to forgive, and it is quite too delicious to forget.
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