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stopped his mouth directly。 'Girls were like fruit； some ripened soon； and
some ripened late。 Some were women at twenty； and some were women at
sixteen。 It was impossible to look at me； and not see that I was like a new
being after my two months at sea；' and so on and so on。 Papa behaved like
an angel。 He still tried to put it off。 'Plenty of time； Richard； plenty of
time。' 'Plenty of time for _her_' （was the wretch's answer to that）； 'but not
for _me_。 Think of all I have to offer her' （as if I cared for his money！）；
'think how long I have looked upon her as growing up to be my wife'
（growing up for _him_monstrous！）； 'and don't keep me in a state of
uncertainty； which it gets harder and harder for a man in my position to
endure！' He was really quite eloquent。 His voice trembled。 There is no
doubt； dear； that he is very； very fond of me。〃
〃And you feel flattered by it； of course？〃
〃Don't talk nonsense。 I feel a little frightened at it； I can tell you。〃
〃Frightened？ Did _you_ notice him this morning？〃
〃I？ When？〃
〃When your father was telling that story about the man overboard。〃
〃No。 What did he do？ Tell me； Launce。〃
〃I'll tell you directly。 How did it all end last night？ Did your father
make any sort of promise？〃
〃You know Richard's way； Richard left him no other choice。 Papa had
to promise before he was allowed to go to bed。〃
〃To let Turlington marry you？〃
〃Yes； the week after my next birthday。〃
〃The week after next Christmas…day？〃
〃Yes。 Papa is to speak to me as soon as we are at home again； and my
married life is to begin with the New Year。〃
〃Are you in earnest； Natalie？ Do you really mean to say it has gone as
far as that？〃
〃They have settled everything。 The splendid establishment we are to
set up； the great income we are to have。 I heard papa tell Richard that half
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his fortune should go to me on my wedding…day。 It was sickening to hear
how much they made of Money； and how little they thought of Love。 What
am I to do； Launce？〃
〃That's easily answered； my darling。 In the first place； you are to make
up your mind not to marry Richard Turlington〃
〃Do talk reasonably。 You know I have done all I could。 I have told
papa that I can think of Richard as a friend； but not as a husband。 He only
laughs at me； and says； 'Wait a little； and you will alter your opinion； my
dear。' You see Richard is everything to him； Richard has always managed
his affairs； and has saved him from losing by bad speculations； Richard
has known me from the time when I was a child； Richard has a splendid
business； and quantities of money。 Papa can't even imagine that I can resist
Richard。 I have tried my aunt； I have told her he is too old for me。 All she
says is； 'Look at your father； he was much older than your mother； and
what a happy marriage theirs was。' Even if I said in so many words； 'I
won't marry Richard；' what good would it do to us？ Papa is the best and
dearest old man in the world； but oh； he is so fond of money！ He believes
in nothing else。 He would be furiousyes； kind as he is； he would be
furiousif I even hinted that I was fond of _you_。 Any man who proposed
to marry meif he couldn't match the fortune that I should bring him by a
fortune of his ownwould be a lunatic in papa's eyes。 He wouldn't think it
necessary to answer him； he would ring the bell； and have him shown out
of the house。 I am exaggerating nothing； Launce； you know I am speaking
the truth。 There is no hope in the futurethat I can seefor either of us。
〃Have you done； Natalie？ I have something to say on my side if you
have。〃
〃What is it？〃
〃If things go on as they are going on now； shall I tell you how it will
end？ It will end in your being Turlington's wife。〃
〃Never！〃
〃So you say now； but you don't know what may happen between this
and Christmas…day。 Natalie； there is only one way of making sure that you
will never marry Richard。 Marry _me_。〃
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〃Without papa's consent？〃
〃Without saying a word to anybody till it's done。〃
〃Oh； Launce！ Launce！〃
〃My darling； every word you have said proves there is no other way。
Think of it； Natalie； think of it。〃
There was a pause。 Natalie dropped her needle and thread； and hid her
face in her hands。 〃If my poor mother was only alive；〃 she said； 〃if I only
had an elder sister to advise me； and to take my part。〃
She was evidently hesitating。 Launce took a man's advantage of her
indecision。 He pressed her without mercy。
〃Do you love me？〃 he whispered； with his lips close to her ear。
〃You know I do； dearly。〃
〃Put it out of Richa rd's power to part us； Natalie。〃
〃Part us？ We are cousins： we have known each other since we were
both children。 Even if he proposed parting us； papa wouldn't allow it。〃
〃Mark my words； he _will_ propose it。 As for your father； Richard has
only to lift his finger and your father obeys him。 My love； the happiness of
both our lives is at stake。 〃He wound his arm round her； and gently drew
her head back on his bosom 〃 Other girls have done it； darling；〃 he
pleaded； 〃why shouldn't you？〃
The effort to answer him was too much for her。 She gave it up。 A low
sigh fluttered through her lips。 She nestled closer to him； and faintly
closed her eyes。 The next instant she started up； trembling from head to
foot； and looked at the sky…light。 Richard Turlington's voice was suddenly
audible on deck exactly above them。
〃Graybrooke； I want to say a word to you about Launcelot Linzie。〃
Natalie's first impulse was to fly to the door。 Hearing Launce's name
on Richard's lips； she checked herself。 Something in Richard's tone roused
in her the curiosity which suspends fear。 She waited； with her hand in
Launce's hand。
〃If you remember；〃 the brassy voice went on； 〃I doubted the wisdom
of taking him with us on this cruise。 You didn't agree with me； and； at your
express request； I gave way。 I did wrong。 Launcelot Linzie is a very
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presuming young man。〃
Sir Joseph's answer was accompanied by Sir Joseph's mellow laugh。
〃My dear Richard！ Surely you are a little hard on Launce？〃
〃You are not an observant man； Graybrooke。 I am。 I see signs of his
presuming with all of us； and especially with Natalie。 I don't like the
manner in which he speaks to her and looks at her。 He is unduly familiar；
he is insolently confidential。 There must be a stop put to it。 In my position；
my feelings ought to be regarded。 I request you to check the intimacy
when we get on shore。〃
Sir Joseph's next words were spoken more seriously。 He expressed his
surprise。
〃My dear Richard； they are cousins； they have been playmates from
childhood。 How _can_ you think of attaching the slightest importance to
anything that is said or done by poor Launce？〃
There was a good…humored contempt in Sir Joseph's reference to 〃poor
Launce〃 which jarred on his daughter。 He might almost have been alluding
to some harmless domestic animal。 Natalie's color deepened。 Her hand
pressed Launce's hand gently。
Turlington still persisted。
〃I must once more requestseriously requestthat you will check this
growing intimacy。 I don't object to your asking him to the house when you
ask other friends。 I only wish you （and expect you） to stop his 'dropping
in；' as it is called； any hour of the day or evening when he may have
nothing to do。 Is that understood between us？〃
〃If you make a point of it； Richard； of course it's understood between
us。〃
Launce looked at Natalie； as weak Sir Joseph consented in those
words。
〃What did I tell you？〃 he whispered。
Natalie hung her head in silence。 There was a pause in the
conversation on deck。 The two gentlemen walked away slowly toward the
forward part of the vessel。
Launce pursued his advantage。