"May I smoke? George! what a
lovely afternoon!"
She glanced at him as he leant back in his chair, his long legs
stretched out and crossed before him.
"You look happy," she said, with a faint smile.
"Oh, I am," he said, with a sudden flush and a start; for now the dog
was off his mind, it had instantly swung back to Ida.
"It's the reward of a generous action," she said, and again, the
mocking note was absent from her voice.
Stafford laughed.
"That's putting it rather high," he said.
They sat on in silence: Stafford thinking of Ida, Maude looking down at
the sleeping dog, and thinking that only a few minutes ago it had been
lying in the bosom of the man who sat beside her: the man whom she had
backed herself to fool; but for whom a strange sensation of
admiration--and was it a subtle fear?--was stirring within her.
"By George! we must be going!" he said, suddenly.
When they got to the boat he proposed to roll the terrier in his coat,
but Maude shook her head.
"I'll nurse it going home," she said.
"You will? That's very good of you!" he said, quite gratefully.
"He's a lucky little beggar!" he remarked, after awhile, as he looked
at the black little morsel curled up on the pretty dress.
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