'I always keep out of their way.

You can always tell them.' The Countess smiled considerate approbation of her exclusiveness and discernment.

So sweet a smile! 'You were on deck early, my dear ?' she asked Evan, rather abruptly.
Master Alec answered for him: 'Yes, he was, and so was Rose.

They made an appointment, just as they used to do under the oranges.' 'Children!' the Countess smiled to Mrs.Melville.
'They always whisper when I'm by,' Alec appended.
'Children!' the Countess's sweetened visage entreated Mrs.Melville to re-echo; but that lady thought it best for the moment to direct Rose to look to her packing, now that she had done breakfast.
'And I will take a walk with my brother on deck,' said the Countess.
'Silva is too harassed for converse.' The parties were thus divided.

The silent Count was left to meditate on his wrongs in the saloon; and the diplomatist, alone with his lady, thought fit to say to her, shortly: 'Perhaps it would be as well to draw away from these people a little.