A warm flush spread over her face.
"I--I couldn't help it," he muttered.

"It--it looked so helpless." "It isn't half as helpless as yours, Mr.Percival," she said, and smiled.

She waited a moment before withdrawing her hand.

"May I have the glasses, please?
Had you forgotten them ?" "Completely," he replied.
Later, while Mrs.Spofford was peering through the glasses, she drew him aside.
"Tell me about the water in the hold," she said in a low tone.

"Is it serious ?" He looked grave.