With his eyes fixed upon the girl, he briefly assured the old man that he would pay for everything he wanted.

He did this with a manner quite different from the careless, easy attitude he had assumed toward Flip; at least the quickwitted girl noticed it, and wondered if he was angry.

It was quite true that ever since his eye had fallen upon another of his own sex, its glance had been less frank and careless.

Certain traits of possible impatience, which might develop into man-slaying, were coming to the fore.

Yet a word or a gesture of Flip's was sufficient to change that manner, and when, with the fretful assistance of her father, she had prepared a somewhat sketchy and primitive repast, he questioned the old man about diamond-making.