Read "The Lady of the Aroostook" by William Dean Howells online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
No one said anything more of the musicales, and the afternoon and evening wore away without general talk. Each seemed willing to keep apart from the rest. Dunham suffered Lydia to come on deck alone after tea, and Staniford found her there, in her usual place, when he went up some time later. He approached her at once, and said, smiling down into her face, to which the moonlight gave a pale mystery, "Miss Blood, did you think I was very wicked to-day at dinner?"
Lydia looked away, and waited a moment before she spoke. "I don't know," she said. Then, impulsively, "Did you? " she asked.
"No, honestly, I don't think I was," answered Staniford. "But I seemed to leave that impression on the company. I felt a little nasty, that was all; and I tried to hurt Mr. Dunham's feelings. But I shall make it right with him before I sleep; he knows that. He's used to having me repent at leisure. Do you ever walk Sunday night?"
"Yes, sometimes," said Lydia interrogatively.
"I'm glad of that. Then I shall not offend against your scruples if I ask you to join me in a little ramble, and you will refuse from purely personal considerations. Will you walk with me?"
"Yes. " Lydia rose.
"And will you take my arm? " asked Staniford, a little surprised at her readiness.
"Thank you."
She put her hand upon his arm, confidently enough, and they began to walk up and down the stretch of open deck together.
"Well," said Staniford, "did Mr. Dunham convince you all?"
"I think he talks beautifully about it," replied Lydia, with quaint stiffness.
"I am glad you see what a very good fellow he is. I have a real affection for Dunham."
"Oh, yes, he's good. At first it surprised me. I mean -- "
"No, no," Staniford quickly interrupted, "why did it surprise you to find Dunham good?"
"I don't know. You don't expect a person to be serious who is so -- so -- "
"Handsome?"
"No, -- so -- I don't know just how to say it: fashionable."
Staniford laughed. "Why, Miss Blood, you're fashionably dressed yourself, not to go any farther, and you're serious."
"It's different with a man," the girl explained.
"Well, then, how about me? " asked Staniford. "Am I too well dressed to be expected to be serious?"