There was a kind of hypnotic charm in the gliding motion of the canoe and the water running by. Milly was further dazed by Maxwell's talk. It was full of mysterious references and couched in the masterful tone of a person who had rights over her--a tone which before he had been more willing than able to adopt; but now the bit was between his teeth. Perhaps absorbed in his own intent, he hardly noticed how little she answered; but he did notice every point of her beauty as she leaned back on the cushions in the light shade of her parasol, from the soft brightness of her hair to the glimpse of delicate white skin which showed through the open-work stocking on her slender foot. When they were in the straight watery avenue between green willow walls, which leads up to the ferry, he slackened the pace. "And what are you going to do next week?" he asked, as one of a series of ironical questions. "A great deal; much more than I care to do. I'm going up to town to see the new Savoy opera, and I'm going to a dance, and to several garden-parties, and to dine with the Master of Durham." "Quite enough for some people; but not for you, Mildred. Think of it--year after year, always the same old run. October Term, Lent Term, Summer Term! A little change in Vacations, say a month abroad, when you can afford it. You aren't meant for it, you know you're not, any more than a swallow's meant for the little hopping, pecketing life of a London sparrow." "Indeed, I don't see the likeness either way. I'm quite happy as I am." He smiled mockingly. "Quite happy! As it's very proper you should be, of course. Come, Mildred, no humbug! Think how you'd feel if you knew that instead of going to all those idiotic parties next week you were going to Constantinople." "Isn't it dreadfully hot at this time of year?" "I like it hot. But at any rate one can always find some cool place in the hottest weather. How would you like to go in a caravan from Cairo to Damascus next autumn?" "I dare say it would be delightful, if the country one passed through were not too wild and dangerous. But Ian would never be able to leave his work for an expedition like that." Maxwell smiled grimly. "I'd no idea you'd want him. I shouldn't. Do be serious. If you fancy I'm the sort of man you can go on playing with forever, you're most confoundedly mistaken." Milly was both offended and alarmed. Was this strange man mad? And she alone with him on the river! "I don't know what you mean," she said, coldly. "Don't you?" he returned, and he still wore his ironic smile--"Well, I know what you mean all the time. You say I only know Oriental women, but, by Allah, there's not a pin to choose between the lot of you, except that there's less humbug about them, and over here you're a set of trained, accomplished hypocrites!" Indignation overcame fear in Milly's bosom. "We are nothing of the kind," she said. "How can you talk such nonsense?"