Beaudelet grumbled because Mariequita was there, taking up so much room.In reality he was annoyed at having old Monsieur Farival, who considered himself the better sailor of the two.But he he would not quarrel with so old a man as Monsieur Farival, so he quarreled with Mariequita.The girl was deprecatory at one moment, appealing to Robert.She was saucy the next, moving her head up and down, making "eyes" at Robert and making "mouths" at Beaudelet.
The lovers were all alone.They saw nothing, they heard nothing.The lady in black was counting her beads for the third time.Old Monsieur Farival talked incessantly of what he knew about handling a boat, and of what Beaudelet did not know on the same subject.
Edna liked it all.She looked Mariequita up and down, from her ugly brown toes to her pretty black eyes, and back again.
"Why does she look at me like that?" inquired the girl of Robert."Maybe she thinks you are pretty.Shall I ask her?""No.Is she your sweetheart?"
"She's a married lady, and has two children.""Oh! well! Francisco ran away with Sylvano's wife, who had four children.They took all his money and one of the children and stole his boat.""Shut up!"
"Does she understand?" "Oh, hush!"
"Are those two married over there--leaning on each other?" "Of course not," laughed Robert.
"Of course not," echoed Mariequita, with a serious, confirmatory bob of the head.