"Lights are very deceptive at night, especially upon the water," said Mr. Dimmerly, sententiously. "It's probably a hardy water-rat of a boatman dropping down with the tide to a point opposite to where he wishes to land." "Yes, that is it, Mr. Hemstead, so dismiss your fears. Your brow is as clouded as that murky sky there." "That comparison is quite oriental in its extravagance," he said, his anxious face relaxing into a sudden smile. "But then you are a bit tropical yourself." "Well, you can't complain if I remind you of the tropics this dreary winter night; so I'll bear out your fanciful conceit. Your face, a moment since, was like a burst of sunshine." "Your figure now is incorrect as well as extravagant; for, whatever light my face has, it is but the reflection of your kindness." "I hope you do not mean to suggest that you have any tendency towards 'mooning'?" "'Mooning' is the indulgence of sickly sentiment, is it not,--a diluted moonlight kind of feeling?" "Very well defined. Does experience give you such accuracy?" said Lottie, laughingly. "I can honestly say no; and most surely not in your case." "I'm glad to hear it," said Lottie. "I should be sorry to think that cold, diluted moonlight was the type of any of my friends' regard." "You may rest assured," he replied impulsively, "there is nothing 'cold or diluted' in my regard for you--" "There is the supper-bell," interrupted Lottie, hastily. "What are you looking at?" asked De Forrest, uneasily noting the fact of their standing together within the shadowy curtains. He had just descended from the toilet which, with him, was a necessity before each meal. "Mr. Hemstead has seen a light upon the river, and bodes from it some vague danger to some vague, indefinite people. Come, Mr. Hemstead, come away, or before we know it you will be off on the quixotic attempt to rescue what uncle calls a 'hardy water-rat,' that all the water of the river could not drown." "O, I see," sneered De Forrest; "Mr. Hemstead wishes to get cheaply, standing here within and in good company, the credit of being willing to attempt a perilous rescue." "You are jumping at conclusions very rapidly, Julian, and not very charitable ones either," said Lottie, reproachfully. "Come, Mr. De Forrest," said Hemstead, quietly, "we will test this question of cheapness. I will go with you to investigate that light." "Nonsense!" replied the exquisite. "As Miss Marsden suggested, Don Quixote may be your model knight, but he is not mine." "Now I didn't suggest any such thing," said Lottie, decidedly vexed. "Come, young people, tea is waiting," called Mrs. Marchmont. "Well, I did," said De Forrest to Lottie, aside; "and what's more, I believe it's true," and he placed her reluctant hand upon his arm, and drew her to the supper-room.