They were all intently gazing after them, while Mooney had even risen to his feet and taken a step forward, his cigar still in his mouth.

Then the group behind laughed loudly, and the younger man set his teeth, his cheeks flushed from sudden anger.

He would have enjoyed dashing back up the steps, and giving those grinning fools a much-needed lesson, but he glanced aside at his companion, her eyes downcast, seemingly utterly unconscious of it all, and gripped himself, walking along beside her, erect and silent.

They traversed the entire deserted block without speaking, each busied indeed with the intricacies of the board walk.

Then Winston sought to break the somewhat embarrassing silence, his first words sounding strangely awkward and constrained.
"It was exceedingly kind of you to grant such privilege when we have scarcely even spoken to each other before." She glanced aside at his grave face, a certain coquettish smile making her appear suddenly girlish.
"Possibly if you realized the exact cause of my complete surrender you might not feel so highly flattered," she confessed, shyly.
"Indeed! You mean why it was you consented so easily?
Then possibly you had better inform me at once, for I acknowledge feeling quite conceited already at my good fortune." She lifted her eyes questioningly, and for the first time he looked directly down into their unveiled depths.
"Then I must certainly make confession.