`` Quite sure , '' I murmured . He surrendered my hymnal at last . `` Will you give me a rose ? '' I unpinned the whole cluster and handed it to him . He lifted it until it touched his lips . As for me , I scuttled up the lane in the most undignified fashion . At the turn I looked back . He was still standing there with his hat off . July Twenty-fourth . On Monday afternoon I slipped away to the shore while Aunt Martha and Mrs. Saxby were taking their regular nap and I was supposed to be reading sermons in my room . Mr. Shelmardine was leaning against the old boat , but he came swiftly across the sand to meet me . `` This is very kind of you , '' he said . `` I ought not to have come , '' I said repentantly . `` But it is so lonely there -- and one ca n't be interested in sermons and memoirs all the time . '' Mr. Shelmardine laughed . `` Mr. and Mrs. Allardyce are on the other side of the boat . Will you come and meet them ? '' How nice of him to bring them ! I knew I should like Mrs. Allardyce , just because Aunt Martha did n't . We had a delightful stroll .
I never thought XXXXX the time until Mr. Shelmardine said it was four o'clock .
across against at because in of to until while with