"
Again Saltash made a fierce movement, but he did not turn or speak.
Larpent took out his pipe and began to fill it. "You've been too good a
friend to her," he went on somewhat grimly, "and you're not made of the
right stuff for that sort of thing. I'm sorry for the kid because she's a
bit of a pagan too, and it's hard to have to embrace respectability
whether you want to or not."
"Oh, damn!" Saltash exclaimed, suddenly and violently. "What more could
any man have done? What the devil are you driving at?"
He turned upon Larpent almost menacingly, and found the steady eyes,
still with that icy glint of humour in them, unflinchingly awaiting his
challenge.
"You want to get married," the sailor said imperturbably. "Why in the
name of all the stars of destiny don't you marry her? She may not have
the blue blood in her veins, but blood isn't everything, and you've got
enough for two. And it's my opinion you'd find her considerably easier to
please than some--less strict in her views too, which is always an
advantage to a man of your varying moods."
Saltash's laugh had a curious jarring sound as of something broken. "Oh,
you think that would be a suitable arrangement, do you? And how long do
you think I should stick to her? How long would it be before she ran
away?"
"I never speculate so far as you are concerned," said Larpent, shaking
the tobacco back into his pouch with care.
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