She wound a black lace shawl around her head, and with some wraps for her
mother, came out.

"Hadn't you better put something over your shoulders?" he asked
deferentially as she appeared.

"And disgust the night with lack of appreciation?"

She turned to a corner of the porch and lifted a pair of oars to her
shoulder.

"Why," he said in surprise, coming toward her, "you keep your oars at
home?"

"On the principle of 'neither a borrower nor a lender be;' we find it saves
both time and spleen."

She held them lightly in place on her shoulder.

"Allow me," he said, placing his hand upon the oars.

A spirit of contradiction took possession of her.

"Indeed, no," she answered; "why should I? They are not at all heavy."

He gently lifted her resisting fingers one by one and raised the broad bone
of contention to his shoulder. Then without a look he turned and offered
his arm to Mrs. Levice."