"Mr. Scofield, am I not very heavy?" she asked softly.
"Not as heavy as my heart, and you know it."
"I'm sure I--"
"No, you are not to blame. Moths have scorched their wings before
now, and will always continue to do so."
Her head rested slightly against his shoulder; her breath fanned
his cheek; her eyes, soft and lustrous, sought his. But he looked
away gloomy and defiant, and she felt his grasp tighten vise-like
around her. "I shall not affect any concealment of the feelings
which she has recognized so often, nor shall I ask any favors," he
thought. "There," he said, as he placed her in his boat, "you are
safe enough now. Now go aft while I push off."
When she was seated he exerted himself almost as greatly as
before, and the boat gradually slid into the water. He sprang in
and took the oars.
"Aren't you going to put on your shoes and stockings?"
"Certainly, when I put you ashore."
"Won't that be a pretty certain way of revealing the plight in
which you found me?"
"Pardon my stupidity; I was preoccupied with the thought of
relieving you from the society which you have hitherto avoided so
successfully;" and bending over his shoes he tied them almost
savagely.
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