After a moment he sat down in the chair that her father had occupied an hour before.

It was very close to her, and she drew herself slightly away with a small, instinctive movement of repugnance.

But Nick was sublimely impervious to hints.
"I say, you know," he said abruptly, "you shouldn't take opium.

Your donkey of an _ayah_ ought to know better than to let you have it." Muriel gave a great start.

"I don't"-- she faltered.