Here, at the river level, it was hot to the point of sultriness, the air heavy, even stagnant, since the Bar shut off the southerly breeze.
"Upon my word one requires to be in training to race you, my dear Damaris," the young man said gaily, ostentatiously mopping his forehead.
"And I'm disgracefully soft just now, I know.

You beat me utterly and ignominiously; but then you did have a good three minutes' start.

In common honesty you can't deny that"-- The girl made no response, but began mounting the few sand-strewn steps on to the jetty.

He saw her face in profile, the delicate upward curve of her long dark eyelashes in the shade of her hat.

Saw, too, that her soft lips quivered as with the effort to repress an outburst of tears.