"Then I must say I
feel sorry for you. . . . Now, why have you that little amused twinkle
in your eyes? I used to see it sometimes at the table on the _Tampico_
when Reggie was boasting, and--and sometimes when I was trying to be
very brilliant. Do you know, sometimes I felt like boxing your ears,
you seemed so superior."
"It was not superiority in your case," laughed Dan, "it was
appreciation."
"Thank you," said Virginia; "and now?"
"Oh," smiled Dan, "the thought of fudge on a derelict was and is
responsible for this twinkle."
"I don't care," she frowned. "It is the person that rises superior to
conditions who triumphs in this world. Anyway, you seem to be
disposing of your share, despite your notions of incongruity."
"Have you thought," said Dan, "that it might pay to be very economical
with your chocolate? If we stay here two or three months and all our
food runs out we can live on ever so little chocolate each day."
"Two or three months!" echoed Virginia. "Now, you are tactful, aren't
you? And just as I was sitting here chattering away, with no thought
that we were not on a yacht ready to turn home the minute I wished to!"
Dan smiled.
"If we were on a yacht, how soon would you--wish to?" he said.
The girl met his eyes undauntedly.
"If I answered you in one way I should not be at all polite," she said;
"and if in another, I should not be--be--"
"Honest?" suggested Dan.
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