It was impossible to devote to her his whole attention, for her mother had already taken her seat close by him and was claiming his ear.

She offered slight attraction to the eye, for her squatting figure was not beautiful.

Okoya grew lively, much more lively than he had been on his first visit.
"Why should I not have wanted to see you ?" he good-naturedly asked.
"I will tell you," Hannay chuckled; "because you were afraid." "Afraid ?" he cried, "afraid?
Of whom ?" But within himself he thought the woman was right.

Hannay smiled.
"Of Mitsha," she said; adding, "she is naughty and strong." A peal of coarse laughter accompanied this stroke of wit.

The girl was embarrassed; she hid her face on her lap.