"You are not an observant man, Graybrooke. I am. I see signs of his
presuming with all of us, and especially with Natalie. I don't like
the manner in which he speaks to her and looks at her. He is unduly
familiar; he is insolently confidential. There must be a stop put to it.
In my position, my feelings ought to be regarded. I request you to check
the intimacy when we get on shore."

Sir Joseph's next words were spoken more seriously. He expressed his
surprise.

"My dear Richard, they are cousins, they have been playmates from
childhood. How _can_ you think of attaching the slightest importance to
anything that is said or done by poor Launce?"

There was a good-humored contempt in Sir Joseph's reference to "poor
Launce" which jarred on his daughter. He might almost have been alluding
to some harmless domestic animal. Natalie's color deepened. Her hand
pressed Launce's hand gently.

Turlington still persisted.

"I must once more request--seriously request--that you will check this
growing intimacy. I don't object to your asking him to the house when
you ask other friends. I only wish you (and expect you) to stop his
'dropping in,' as it is called, any hour of the day or evening when he
may have nothing to do. Is that understood between us?"

"If you make a point of it, Richard, of course it's understood between
us."