She remembered his covert challenge at their last interview at Mr.Wilks's, and the necessity of reading this persistent young man a stern lesson came to her with all the force of a public duty.
"Why ?" she inquired, softly, as she lowered her eyes and assumed a pensive expression.
"I admire him, for one thing, as a fine seaman," said Hardy.
"Yes," said Miss Nugent, "and--" "And I've always had a great liking for Mrs.Kingdom," he continued; "she was very good-natured to me when I was a very small boy, I remember.

She is very kind and amiable." The baffled Miss Nugent stole a glance at him.

"And--" she said again, very softly.
"And very motherly," said Hardy, without moving a muscle.
Miss Nugent pondered and stole another glance at him.

The expression of his face was ingenuous, not to say simple.

She resolved to risk it.