To waste his whole heart in one kiss
Upon her perfect lips?'

Let them plead for me the pardon I know no better way to sue for--or
explain!"

The girl was silent. That little flutter in her heart was pleading for
him, but her head was still rebellious, and she knew not which would
triumph. She put one white finger on her lip, and wondered what to say
to him. She would not look into his eyes--they bothered her quite beyond
all reason--so she looked at the deck instead, as though hoping to find
some rule of conduct there.

"I am sorry, Opal," went on the pleading tones, "that is, sorry that it
offended you. I can't be sorry that I did it--yet!"

After a moment of serious reflection, she looked up at him sternly.

"It was a very rude thing to do, Paul! No one ever--"

"Don't you suppose I know that, Opal? Did you think that I thought--"

"How was I to know what you thought, Paul? You didn't know me!"

"Oh, but I do. Better than you know yourself!"

She looked up at him quickly, a startled expression in her soft,
lustrous eyes.

"I--almost--believe you do--Paul."