"I knew you were only making excuses, Mr.
Meldon." "I was," said Meldon.

"I may as well own up to it that I was.

My real reason for not wishing you to come with us--" He edged over to where Simpkins was sitting, and kicked him sharply in the ribs.

It was, after all, Simpkins' business to make some effort to retain Miss King.
"My real reason," he said, "though I didn't like to mention it before, is that there's a dead sheep on the other side of the island, just above the lobster bed.

It's a good deal decayed, and the sea-gulls have been picking at it." Miss King shuddered.
"Is there a dead sheep, Major Kent ?" she asked.
"I don't know," said the Major.