Page:Biggers and Ritchie - Inside the Lines.djvu/263

 "Miss Gerson, it's good to see you again and know by your handclasp you have forgiven me for—for what was very necessary at the moment—last night—our meeting in the Splendide." Captain Woodhouse was standing before her now, his grave eyes looking down into hers. The girl caught a deep note of sincerity and something else—something vibrantly personal. Yet her tongue would not be loosed of its burden.

"A very pretty speech," she answered, with attempted raillery. "I shall think of it on the boat going home."

"I say, I wish you weren't always in that horrid state of mind—on your way home mentally," Captain Woodhouse challenged.

"I shall be so in reality day after to-morrow, I hope," she replied. "Away from all this bewildering war and back in comfortable little New York." The man seemed genuinely grieved at her announcement.

"New York must be worth while; but I imagine you have nothing picturesque—nothing old there. I'll wager you haven't a single converted monastery like Government House in all your city."