He even fancied that Mr. Preston was at that moment engaged in
laughing over the verdant midshipman. As a matter of fact, Mr.
Preston was doing nothing of the sort. Mr. Preston had not supposed
that Dan's former call had been intended as anything more than
a pleasant social diversion. The Prestons supposed that every
one knew that their niece was betrothed to an excellent young
fellow. So, at this particular moment, Mr. Preston was engaged
in sitting on a trunk, while his wife tried to turn the key in
the lock. Neither of them was favoring Midshipman Dalzell with
as much as a thought.
"Why on earth is it that all girls are so tricky?" Dan asked himself
savagely, taking it for granted that all girls are "tricky" where
admirers are concerned.
"Oh, my, what a laugh Davy will have over me, when he hears!" was
Dan's next bitter thought, as he strode along.
Having just wronged all girls in his own estimation of them, Dan
was now proceeding to do his own closest chum an injustice. For
Dave Darrin was too thorough a gentleman to laugh over any unfortunate's
discomfiture.
"What a lucky escape I had from getting better acquainted with
that girl!" was Dalzell's next thought. "Why, with one as wholly
deceitful as she is there can be no telling where it would all have
ended. She might have drawn me into troubles that would have
resulted in my having to leave the service!"
Dan had not the least desire to do any one an injustice, but just
now he was so astounded and indignant that his mind worked violently
rather than keenly.
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