“Put that tobacco away or I’ll throw it in the lake!  Do you think you can kiss me when you like?”

“I wish I could,” said Charnock.  “As a matter of fact, I haven’t kissed you yet.  But I’m sorry if you’re vexed.”

For a moment Sadie hesitated and then fixed him with a fierce, scornful gaze.

“Oh,” she said, “you’re cheap, and you’d make me as cheap as you!  You want things for nothing; they must be given, where other men would work and fight.  But you can’t amuse yourself by making love to me.”

Charnock felt humiliated.  If he had really offended her, she could have rebuked him with a look or sign.  Her unnecessary frankness jarred.

“Very well; I must ask you to forget it.  Of course, I was wrong, but I’ll try not to vex you again.  What are we going to do now?”

“Paddle back to the others as quick as you can.”

Throwing his cigarette into the water, Charnock turned the canoe.  It was a relief to be energetic, because Sadie’s demand for speed stung him.  He glanced at her now and then, but she gave no sign of relenting; her face was whiter than usual and her look was strained.  Getting angry, he drove the canoe down the lake with a curling wave at her bow, until the paddle snapped in a savage stroke and he flung the haft away.  For a moment, he hoped Sadie would laugh, but she did not.

“Now you’ll have to paddle with your hands until you pick up the broken blade,” she said.

Charnock did so and afterwards awkwardly propelled the craft towards the camp fire.  He thought Sadie might have suggested their landing and walking back, but she was silent and calmly watched his clumsy efforts.  He was glad when they reached the beach where the others were and he helped her out.  An hour or two later he drove her home, but she did not talk.  Her anger had gone, but she seemed strangely distant.  After helping her down at the hotel he waited a moment.

“Can’t we make this up and be friends again?” he asked.

She gave him a curious steady glance.  “Not now.  It looks as if you didn’t know me yet.”

Then she left him, and Charnock drove home in a thoughtful mood.  He had some idea about what she meant and had been rather surprised by the pride she had shown.  Sadie had certainly led him on; but she was not altogether the girl he had thought.

CHAPTER III

KELLER INTERFERES

For two or three weeks after the picnic Charnock did not meet Sadie.  The rebuff he had got did not rankle much, and was rather provocative than daunting, but he understood why she had told him he made her cheap.  She meant to keep her caresses for her husband or declared lover, and if he wanted her, he must pay the regular price.  This was very proper, from her point of view, but from his the price was high.