Perhaps you are right, I have no wish to be a blue stocking and deserted in my old age, far from it.

But give me time to think.

Let us first ascertain the extent of this disaster which has overtaken my father.

Then if you still care for me and if I have not changed my mind," here she glanced slyly at him, "we will resume our discussion." Again she held out her hand which he had released.
"Is it a bargain ?" she asked.
"It's a bargain," he murmured, raising the white hand to his lips.
A fierce longing rose within him to take her in his arms and kiss passionately the mouth that lay temptingly near his own, but his courage failed him.

After all, he reasoned, he had not yet the right.
A few minutes later they left the deck and went downstairs to dress for dinner.