You needn't look like that; good-looking daughters
always come expensive."
She moved her chair a couple of inches in his direction and smiled
alluringly. The captain shifted uneasily; prudence counselled flight,
but dignity forbade it. He stared hard at Mrs. Kingdom, and a smile of
rare appreciation on that lady's face endeavoured to fade slowly and
naturally into another expression. The chair came nearer.
"Don't be foolish," said the captain, gruffly.
The chair came still nearer until at last it touched his, and then Miss
Nugent, with a sigh of exaggerated content, allowed her head to sink
gracefully on his shoulder.
"Most comfortable shoulder in Sunwich," she murmured; "come and try the
other, aunt, and perhaps you'll get a new bonnet."
[Illustration: "'Most comfortable shoulder in Sunwich,' she murmured."]
Mrs. Kingdom hastened to reassure her brother. She would almost as soon
have thought of putting her head on the block. At the same time it was
quite evident that she was taking a mild joy in his discomfiture and
eagerly awaiting further developments.
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