eed, I don't see the likeness either way. I'm quite happy as I am."

He smiled mockingly.

"Quite happy! As it's very proper you should be, of course. Come,
Mildred, no humbug! Think how you'd feel if you knew that instead of
going to all those idiotic parties next week you were going to
Constantinople."

"Isn't it dreadfully hot at this time of year?"

"I like it hot. But at any rate one can always find some cool place in
the hottest weather. How would you like to go in a caravan from Cairo to
Damascus next autumn?"

"I dare say it would be delightful, if the country one passed through
were not too wild and dangerous. But Ian would never be able to leave
his work for an expedition like that."

Maxwell smiled grimly.

"I'd no idea you'd want him. I shouldn't. Do be serious. If you fancy
I'm the sort of man you can go on playing with forever, you're most
confoundedly mistaken."

Milly was both offended and alarmed. Was this strange man mad? And she
alone with him on the river!

"I don't know what you mean," she said, coldly.

"Don't you?" he returned, and he still wore his ironic smile--"Well, I
know what you mean all the time. You say I only know Oriental women,
but, by Allah, there's not a pin to choose between the lot of you,
except that there's less humbug about them, and over here you're a set
of trained, accomplished hypocrites!"

Indignation overcame fear in Milly's bosom.

"We are nothing of the kind," she said. "How can you talk such
nonsense?"

"Nonsense? I suppose being a woman you can't really be logical, although
you generally pretend to be so. Why have you pranked yourself out, spent
an hour I dare say in making yourself pretty to-day? For what possible
reason except to attract the eyes of a crowd of men, young fools or
doddering old ones--"

Milly uttered an expression of vehement denial, but he continued:

"Or else to whet my appetite for forbidden fruit. But there's no 'or'
about it, is there? Most likely you had both of those desirable objects
in view."

Milly was not a coward when her indignation was aroused. She took hold
of the sides of the canoe and began raising herself.

"I don't know whether you mean to be insulting," she said; "but I don't
wish to hear any more of this sort of thing. I'd rather you put me out,
please."

"Sit down," he said, with authority--the canoe was rocking
violently--"unless you're anxious to be drowned. I warn you I'm a very
poor swimmer, and if we