He walked by her side, and
did not speak to her. She waited with some surprise at this silence,
and then, as he was shy, she talked to him, uttered many airy
nothings, and then put questions to him. "Did he always drink tea out
of doors?"
"On fine nights in summer. Eve settled all such matters."
"Have you not a voice?"
"I have a voice, but no vote. She is skipper ashore."
"Oh, is she? Who taught her how delicious it is to drink tea out of
doors?"
David did not know--fancied it was her own idea. "Did you really like
it, Miss Fountain?"
"Like it, Mr. Dodd! It was Elysium. I never passed a sweeter evening
in my life."
David colored all over. "I wish I could believe that."
"Was it the tulip-tree, or the violin, or was it your conversation,
Mr. Dodd, I wonder?" asked she demurely, looking mock-innocent in his
face.
"It was your goodness to be so easily pleased," said Dodd, with a gush
that made her color. She smiled, however. "Well, that is one way of
looking at things," said she. _"Entre nous,_ I think Miss Dodd
was the enchantress."
"Eve is capital company, for that matter."
"Indeed she is; you must be very happy together. Your mutual affection
is very charming, Mr. Dodd, but sometimes it almost makes me sad.
Forgive me! I have no brother."
"You will never want one to love you a thousand times better than a
brother can love."
"Oh, shan't I?" said the lady, and opened her eyes.
"No; and there is more than one that worships the ground you tread on
at this moment; but you know that.
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