"Just to show that I can order you about."

"I shall go back!" -- with raised chin. How
I remember that raised chin, and how (whisper
it) I used to fear it!

"You cannot. I am holding the edge of your
skirt."

" Ralph! And all the other passengers look-
ing!"

"Then sit down -- and, before you do, tuck
that rug under my feet, will you?"

"Certainly not."

"Under my feet!"

She does it, under protest, whereon I release
her skirts. She is sulky, quite distinctly sulky.
I slide my hand under the rug into her lap.
She ignores it.

"Now," I say calmly, "we are even. And
you might as well hold my hand. Every one
thinks you are."

She brings her hands hastily from under her
rug and puts them over her head. "I don't
know what has got into you," she says coldly.
"And why are we even?"

"For the day you told me the deck was not
clean."

-280-