Dexie raised her eyes to the earnest face before her as she replied: 

“I must think of my own self.  Why should I make my life unhappy to please a passing fancy of yours?”

“A passing fancy!  I understand that remark; you mean it as a sneer.  It was a passing fancy with Gussie, I will admit.  But, Dexie, it is a strong man’s love that now burns in my heart.  Think of all that it is in my power to give you, if you will only receive it.  But the fact that I possess a fortune gives me no pleasure unless I can share it with you.  Say the word, Dexie, and your every wish shall be gratified, if it is in the power of a man or money to do so, and my whole life shall be spent in making you happy.  You need never have a care.  What more could you ask of me, Dexie?” His eager eyes seemed to burn into her very soul as he waited her reply.

“I ask you for nothing; but if you will take all this and lay it before someone who could and would gladly accept it, you would be far happier in the end.  It is a waste of time to try and persuade me to do what my whole soul refuses to consider, even for a moment.”

“But why?  Tell me why, Dexie?  What have you against me?  Is it on Gussie’s account, or is it Lancy Gurney that comes between us?”

“What matters the reason?  Call it what you like, it stands between us, and always will,” she answered with rising color.

“You will not say!  Can it be possible that you are so much in love with Lancy Gurney that there is no room for a thought of me?  He will never make you happy; he knows nothing of love as I feel it—­a schoolboy attachment, that will soon be forgotten!”

“Be kind enough to leave Lancy’s name out of this discussion altogether,” said Dexie coldly, “and as there is nothing to be gained by prolonging this unpleasant interview, we had better return home.”

“You are mistaken if you think I am going to end this little excursion without gaining my end.  Do you remember the time Lancy took you to drive, on purpose to gain your consent to whistle at the concert?  Well, he kept you out until you gave him your promise, and I intend to profit by that idea of his, and keep you here until you give me a promise also.”

“Why!  Mr. McNeil, are you crazy?” said Dexie, in alarm.  “What parallel do you see in the case?  What good would a promise do you which you know I would break the moment I reached the shore?”

“You will not break any promise you make.  I am not afraid of that.  I think I know you better than you do yourself, Dexie.”

Dexie flushed angrily, and turned her eyes to see the position of their boat.  They had been drifting at the will of the tide, and she had given little thought to it in her excitement.  But now, understanding what might be in store for her, it was necessary to think of some way of escape.

Could she keep Hugh from regarding her movements, and draw his attention from their boat’s course?