She is very young--and very pretty--too young and pretty to be so indifferent--so tired." She stood on the step behind and above him, looking down at his back and his well-set shoulders.

They were inviting, those firm, broad, young shoulders of his; and she laid both hands on them.
"Shall I row you about in the flat-boat, Louis ?" "I'll do the paddling--" "Not by any means.

I like to row, if you please.

I have cold cream and a pair of gloves, so that I shall acquire no blisters." They walked together out to the road and along it, she holding to her skirts and his arm, until the star-lit pond came into view.
Afloat in the ancient, weedy craft he watched her slender strength mastering the clumsy oars--watched her, idly charmed with her beauty and the quaint, childish pleasure that she took in manoeuvring among the shoreward lily pads and stumps till clear water was reached and the little misty wavelets came slap! slap! against the bow.
"If you were Querida you'd sing in an exceedingly agreeable tenor," she observed.
"Not being Querida, and labouring further under the disadvantage of a barytone, I won't," he said.
"Please, Louis." "Oh, very well--if you feel as romantic as that." And he began to sing: "My wife's gone to the country, Hurrah! Hurrah!" "Louis! Stop it! Do you know you are positively corrupt to do such a thing at such a time as this ?" "Well, it's all I know, Valerie--" "I could cry!" she said, indignantly, and maintained a dangerous silence until they drifted into the still waters of the outlet where the starlight silvered the sedge-grass and feathery foliage formed a roof above.
Into the leafy tunnel they floated, oars shipped; she, cheek on hand, watching the fire-flies on the water; he, rid of his cigarette, motionless in the stern.
After they had drifted half a mile she seemed disinclined to resume the oars; so he crossed with her, swung the boat, and drove it foaming against the silent current.
On the return they said very little.

She stood pensive, distraite, as he tied the boat, then--for the road was dark and uneven--took his arm and turned away beside him.
"I'm afraid I haven't been very amusing company," he ventured.
She tightened her arm in his--a momentary, gentle pressure: "I'm merely too happy to talk," she said.