"I ought to ignore you always," she said, "but--"
"But you won't, I'm sure! And, in time, even she will see how I have
improved, and relent towards me."
"Do you think so?" asked Hope in a smothered tone.
"Indeed I do! She is too sweet and fine a girl to hold resentment, I'm
sure. I'll win her over yet!"
"Well, you might try," said the naughty girl in a tone of doubtful
assent, "but my sister is not one to be trifled with, and you were wise
to come to me. If you ever do speak to her, I wouldn't advise you to
repeat this conversation--" and, chuckling amusedly, Hope sped on her
way, leaving Allyne in great contentment of mind. He looked after her
with a smile.
"It was lucky I tackled the right one!" he muttered. "The other is
lovely; I suppose, but I like a little more force and fire. In spite
of their resemblance it's easy enough to tell them apart when one is
really interested. Well, I must keep my promise, now, and behave
myself--that is clear!"
CHAPTER XV.
TROPICAL EVENINGS.
Our voyagers thought they had already known something of torrid heat, but
the next few days was to show that, as yet, they had only begun to
appreciate it; for there is but one hotter zone on earth than this in
which the Red Sea lies, and that contains the Persian Gulf and Senegambia.
As they steamed into the Suez Canal, upon leaving uninteresting Port
Said, every one was brought to the decks by curiosity and interest. This
world-renowned ditch, which has revolutionized the commerce and travel of
the whole earth, begins with much breadth and promise, but soon narrows
down to a watery roadway, scarcely wider than a city street, where
meeting vessels cannot pass, except as one hugs the siding, and at night
the "International" was obliged to "tie up," as the captain expressed it,
that there need be no danger of collisions.
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