he winked
violently at Major Kent. The Major was extremely comfortably seated
with his back against a rock, and was enjoying himself. The
_Spindrift_ lay secure at her anchor. The sun shone pleasantly. An
after luncheon pipe is a particularly enjoyable one, and Miss King was
talking in a very charming way, besides looking pretty. The Major was
disinclined to move, and although he guessed at the meaning of Meldon's
wink, he deliberately ignored it. Meldon winked again. Then he rose
to his feet, shook himself, and looked round him.

"I think, Major," he said, "that if we mean to catch any lobsters
to-day, we ought to be starting."

The Major grunted.

"Lobsters! Can we catch lobsters here?" said Miss King. "I should
like to help. I have never caught a lobster."

"It's not exactly a sport for ladies," said Meldon. "The lobster is an
ugly fish to tackle unless you are accustomed to him. Besides, we
shall have to take off our shoes and stockings."

"But I only mean to look on. I shouldn't run any risks."

She had in her mind at the moment a scene in her new novel into which
lobster fishing, as practised in the west of Ireland, might be
introduced with great effect. The idea that there was some risk about
the sport added to its value for her purpose. She foresaw the
possibility of vividly picturesque descriptions of bare-limbed,
sun-tanned muscular folk plunging among weedy rocks, or spattered with
yellow spume, staggering shorewards under a load of captured lobsters.
But Meldon was most unsympathetic.

"Besides," he said, "the chief haunt of the lobsters is at the other
side of the island, quite a long way off."

"I should like the walk," said Miss King, "and I'm sure there's a
charming view."

"It's very rough," said Meldon, "and you'd get your feet wet."

He nudged the Major as he spoke. It did not seem fair that the making
of all the excuses should be left to him.

"I really believe," said Miss King, "that you don't want me to go with
you, Mr. Meldon. It's most unkind of you. I'm beginning to think that
you don't like me. You said something quite rude to me the other day,
and I don't believe half you're saying to me now.--It's not dangerous
to catch lobsters, is it, Major Kent?"

The Major felt Meldon's eye on him. He was also aware that Miss King
was looking at him appealingly.

"No," he said; "at least, not very; not if you're careful about the way
you take hold of them."

"And I s