Constance, who wanted to pinch Enid severely, had reverted to her normal healthy hue by this time. She dropped her glasses.
"We are shamefully wasting precious minutes here," she said. "Enid, you and I ought to be in the kitchen."
Then she glanced with cold self-possession at Pyne, who was whistling softly between his teeth as he plied the duster.
"As for you," she said, "I never saw anyone work so hard with less need."
He critically examined the shining burner.
"We Americans are taught to be strenuous," he said smilingly. "That is the only way you can cut in ahead of the other fellow nowadays, Miss Brand."
She almost resigned the contest. That unhappy explanation had delivered her bound into his hands. Yet she strove desperately to keep up the pretence that their spoken words had no ulterior significance.
"Such energy must be very wearing," she said.
"But in your case it is unnecessary. My father believes we will be here at least forty-eight hours." Then she became conscious that again she had not said exactly what she meant to say. "So you, at any rate, need not wear your fingers to the bone," she added hurriedly.
"Guess it must be a national vice," he said with irritating complacency. "Just now I feel I have a regular hustle on."
"Your example equals your precepts. Enid, tear yourself from the attractive spectacle. There are eighty-one ravenous people to be fed."
"Sorry you haven't hit upon the real reason of my abounding industry," said Pyne, who skipped down the ladder first to give the girls a helping hand as they descended.
"Please tell us. It may be inspiring," said Constance.
"I'm going to ask the boss if I can't take a turn as scullery-maid when I'm through here."
"Then I veto the idea now," she answered. "Enid and I have had a most comfortable nap, and I am certain you have not closed your eyes all night. I will make it my personal business to see that both my father and you lie down for a couple of hours immediately after breakfast."
"Or else there will be a mutiny in the kitchen," chimed in Enid.
"Connie," she whispered, when they were safely out of hearing from the service-room, "I never saw a worse case. Talk about the young men suddenly smitten you read of in novels--"