Part 4 (2/2)
”Not at all,” gallantly; ”but I'm afraid you'll take cold. Do you live near?”
”Only at Omeath, but we shall have to tack, so it will take rather a long time.”
”I should think so,” impressively. ”We'll go into Carlingford, and I'll take you to my aunt's to get some dry clothes.”
”Who is your aunt?” asked Paddy, inwardly admiring the skill with which he managed his boat; and not a little also his broad shoulders and frank, pleasant face.
”Mrs Masterman, at Dunluce.”
”Goodness!” she exclaimed in surprise, without stopping to think. ”Are you Colonel Masterman's nephew who came yesterday?”
”Yes, why?” looking up curiously.
Paddy found herself in a fix, and she flushed crimson, feeling ready to bite her tongue out for being so hasty.
”Why?” he asked again, in a way that made her feel she must answer.
”Only that I heard something about you this afternoon,” she stammered.
”And what did you hear?”
His grey eyes had an amused twinkle in them now, and there was something so disarming about his smile; that with an answering twinkle in her own, Paddy looked at him slyly and said:
”Oh! nothing much--only that you bought picture post-cards.”
CHAPTER FIVE.
TED MASTERMAN.
”Was that all?” asked Ted Masterman, reaching across to tuck his rain-proof coat, which he fortunately had with him, closer round her, and looking still more amused.
”Not quite, but it's all I'm going to tell you,” said Paddy.
”Oh, no, it isn't,” with a smile; ”you're going to tell me the rest.”
”How do you know I am?” archly.
”Because people always have to do what I want them to.”
”How very odd!” in feigned surprise; ”that is exactly how it is with me!”
”So I should imagine,” looking into her laughing eyes with growing interest.
”That's pretty of you,” she said, ”so I'll go on. I was told you had a lovely smile.”
”Someone was a kindly judge then. I wonder what you said.”
The twinkle in Paddy's eyes literally shone.
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