"
The girl smiled.
"Most men would be ashamed to say that," she said. "Most of the men I
have known," she added.
"I never would have said it to any one but you." He said this with
quiet conviction, and the girl inclined her head slightly.
"I thank you. . . . Do you remember that night at the dinner when I
told you that if our friendship was to continue it was to be one of
limitations? How long ago that seems now--and how absurd!"
"Does it seem absurd?"
"Doesn't it?" She laughed. "It seems to me you were inclined to
regard it so that night."
"Much to your indignation."
"Is it so? If you had asked me, I might have admitted that the fact I
ever could be indignant with you was the principal reason why that
night of the dinner seemed so long ago." She hastened to qualify.
"For, you see, I count you now among my very closest friends."
"That is saying a great deal," smiled Dan. "When we get ashore and you
are comfortably installed as queen of your father's drawing-room and
Dan Merrithew is--"
An exclamation from the girl interrupted him.
"Dan Merrithew, don't you dare!"
"And Dan Merrithew is just a--" She had risen, and before he could
complete the sentence her hands were pressed tightly over his mouth.
"Will you be good?" she cried. She released her hands and regarded him
with mock severity.
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