"I see," she conceded.

Sansome moved to go. But at this Keith's attention was attracted. He sprang
forward, seized Sansome's arm, insisted on introducing him to Nan, was
over-effusive, over-cordial, buoyant. Both Sansome and Mrs. Sherwood were
experienced enough to yield entirely to his mood. They understood perfectly
that at the least opposition Keith was in just the condition to reveal
himself, perhaps, to break over the frail barrier that separates
exhilaration from loss of self-control. They saw also that Nan had no
suspicion of the state of affairs. Indeed, following the reaction from her
long voyage and her illness, she responded and played up to Keith's high
spirits. Neither wanted her to grasp the situation if it could be avoided:
Mrs. Sherwood from genuine good feeling, Sansome because of the social
awkwardness and bad taste. Besides, he felt that his presence at such a
scene would be a very bad beginning for himself.

"No, you're not going," Keith was insisting; "you don't realize what a
celebration this is! Here we've pulled up all our roots, haven't we, Nan?
and come thousands of miles to a new country, a wonderful country; and the
very first day of our landing you want us to act as though nothing had
happened!"

Nan nodded a vigorous assent to his implied reference to her.

"And what we're going to do is to celebrate," insisted Keith. "You're all
going to dine with us. No, I insist! You're the only friends we have out
here, and you aren't going to desert us the very first day we need you."

"I wish you would!" cried Nan, sitting forward eagerly.