"Can't we forget we are not
exactly friends, just for to-night? If so, you will drink this and
commence at once on the provisions--to please me."
Maud Barrington was glad of the reviving draught, for she was very
cold, but presently she held out the packet.
"One really cannot eat many crackers at once, will you help me?"
Winston laughed as he took one of the biscuits. "If I had expected any
one would share my meal, I would have provided a better one. Still, I
have been glad to feast upon more unappetizing things occasionally."
"When were you unfortunate?" said the girl.
Winston smiled somewhat dryly. "I was unfortunate for six years on
end."
He was aware of the blunder when he had spoken, but Maud Barrington
appeared to be looking at the flask thoughtfully.
"The design is very pretty," she said. "You got it in England?"
The man knew that it was the name F. Winston his companion's eyes
rested on, but his face was expressionless. "Yes," he said. "It is
one of the things they make for presentation in the old country."
Maud Barrington noticed the absence of any attempt at explanation, and
having considerable pride of her own, was sensible of a faint approval.
"You are making slow progress," she said, with a slight but perceptible
difference in her tone. "Now, you can have eaten nothing since
breakfast."
Winston said nothing, but by and by poured a little of the spirit into
a rusty can, and the girl, who understood why he did so, felt that it
covered several of his offenses.
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