Page 30 (1/1)
'Shall we have a boat?' he said again,that to his first question she had not answered, but looked uncertainly at the ground, then almost, but not quite, in his face, blushed a series of minute blushes, left off in the ns of perplexity in a matter of the emotions
Owen had always been with her before, but there was now a force of habit in the proceeding, and with Arcadian innocence she assumed that a row on the water was, under any circu spoken on either side, they went down the steps He carefully handed her in, took his seat, slid noiselessly off the sand, and away froraceful yellow cockle-shell, and his eyes frequently found a resting-place in the depths of hers
The boat was so small that at each return of the sculls, when his hands cain the pull, they approached so near to her that her vivid i to clasp his ar that she could not run the risk of againhis eyes at those critical moments, and turned aside to inspect the distant horizon; then she greeary of looking sideways, and was driven to return to her natural position again At this instant he again leant forward to begin, and aze An involuntary iive a veheht the boat's head round till they stood directly for shore
His eyes, which had dwelt upon her for the whole time of her look askance, now left her; he perceived the direction in which they were going
'Why, you have co over his shoulder 'Look at our track on the water--a great ses as far as we can see' She looked attentively 'Is it my fault or yours?' she inquired
'Mine, I suppose?' 'I can't help saying that it is yours' She dropped the ropes decisively, feeling the slightest twinge of vexation at the answer
'Why do you let go?' 'I do it so badly' 'O no; you turned about for shore in a masterly way Do you wish to return?' 'Yes, if you please' 'Of course, then, I will at once' 'I fear what the people will think of us--going in such absurd directions, and all through ' 'Never mind what the people think' A pause 'You surely are not so weak as to mind what the people think on such a ht aliven by him to her; but never mind For al sensation, although on such an insignificant subject, of being compelled into an opinion by a man she loved