All this time the light was in our faces, and the hateful customs people could see every feature, down to the shortest eyelash. When they did turn the horrid white stream in another direction, I felt as weak as if the search-light had been a stream of cold water. I tried not to be hysterical, but I couldn't help crying and laughing alternately, especially when the Prince would have taken my hands and begun all over again. "'Ware the light!" I gasped, as nervous as a cat that hears a mouse in the wall. And though I really did want the Prince to propose to me, and was anxious to say that I would be his princess, in the circumstances I was as thankful as I was astonished to hear Beechy's voice calling to me across the water. In five minutes more a row-boat containing all the members of our party came alongside, and the lights in our bow and theirs showed us their faces, though the moon was still hiding her face in her hands with a pair of black gloves on. "We _thought_ you'd gone down to the lake," said Beechy, "so I persuaded the others to come too; but we never dreamed you were in a motor-boat, or whereabouts you were, till we _saw_ you." I felt myself get as red as fire; though, when one comes to think of it, I am my own mistress, and Beechy can't keep me from doing anything that I've made up my mind to do. "This boat belongs to a friend of the Prince's," I explained. "We were trying it when it broke down, and he has been examining the motor." "So I noticed," remarked Beechy. "I guess you're a little near-sighted, aren't you, Prince?" He did not answer her, but explained to Mr. Barrymore the cause of the accident, and asked to be towed into harbour. Of course, my evening was spoiled. I tried to laugh it off and say how Providential it was they had come to our rescue; but though I kept telling myself every minute that there was no need for me to mind Beechy, I dreaded meeting her alone. However, the evil moment wouldn't be put off forever, and she came along the balcony from her window to mine when I had shut myself up in my bedroom. I expected her to fly out at me, but her manner was the same as usual. "Want me to undo your frock behind, Mamma?" she asked. Then, when she had got me half unhooked: "Tell me what the Prince said when he proposed." "He didn't propose," said I. "If he didn't I shall ask Sir Ralph to call him out. He'd no business kissing your hands unless he'd proposed." I was surprised at this attitude. But it made me feel confidential. "He hadn't had a chance," I volunteered. "He was just going to, when the search-light--" "--Searched. Lucky for you the interruption came at the right moment." "Why? I thought--" "Because it saved you the pain of refusing him." "But, Beechy darling, I don't think I was going to refuse him." "Don't you? Well, I do. I'm sure of it." "Dearest, if you wouldn't look at me in that square-chinned way! It's so like your poor Papa."