Her hand
pressed Launce's hand gently.
Turlington still persisted.
"I must once more request--seriously request--that you will check this
growing intimacy. I don't object to your asking him to the house when
you ask other friends. I only wish you (and expect you) to stop his
'dropping in,' as it is called, any hour of the day or evening when he
may have nothing to do. Is that understood between us?"
"If you make a point of it, Richard, of course it's understood between
us."
Launce looked at Natalie, as weak Sir Joseph consented in those words.
"What did I tell you?" he whispered.
Natalie hung her head in silence. There was a pause in the conversation
on deck. The two gentlemen walked away slowly toward the forward part of
the vessel.
Launce pursued his advantage.
"Your father leaves us no alternative," he said. "The door will be
closed against me as soon as we get on shore. If I lose you, Natalie, I
don't care what becomes of me. My profession may go to the devil. I have
nothing left worth living for.
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