"
"Then why didn't you do what she bid you?"
"She gave me no orders that I heard," said the literal first mate.
"She gave you a plain hint, though."
"To do what?"
"To do what? stupid! Why, to make love to her, to be sure."
"Why, she is a married woman?"
"If she chooses to forget that, is it your business to remember it?"
"And if she was single, and the loveliest in the world, how could I
court her when my heart is full of an angel?"
"If your heart is full, your head is empty. Why, you see nothing."
"I can't see why I should belie my heart."
"Can't you? Then I can. David, in less than a month Miss Fountain goes
to this lady and stays a quarter of a year: she told me so herself.
Oh, my ears are always open in your service ever since I did agree to
be as great a fool as you are. Now don't you see that if you can't get
Mrs. Bazalgette to invite you to her house, you must take leave of the
other here forever?"
"I see what you mean, Eve; how wise you are! It is wonderful. But what
is to be done? I am bad at feigning. I can't make love to her."
"But you can let her make love to you: is that an effort you feel
equal to? and I must do the rest. Oh, we have a nice undertaking
before us. But, if boys will cry for fruit that is out of their reach,
and their silly sisters will indulge them--don't slobber _me."_
"You are such a dear girl to fight for me so a little against your
judgment."
"A little, eh? Dead against it, you mean.
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