第3章

"Oneoftheotherships？"

"Weshouldbetherenow，oratanyratetomorrow。"

"WellthenI’mgladitisn’toneoftheothers"——andIsmiledattheyoungladyonmyarm。Mywordsofferedherachancetosaysomethingappreciative，andgavehimoneevenmore；butneitherJaspernorGraceMavistookadvantageoftheoccasion。Whattheydiddo，I

noticed，wastolookateachotherratherfixedlyaninstant；afterwhichsheturnedhereyessilentlytothesea。Shemadenomovementandutterednosound，contrivingtogivemethesensethatshehadallatoncebecomeperfectlypassive，thatshesomehowdeclinedresponsibility。WeremainedstandingtherewithJasperinfrontofus，andifthecontactofherarmdidn’tsuggestIshouldgiveherup，neitherdiditintimatethatwehadbetterpasson。Ihadnoideaofgivingherup，albeitoneofthethingsIseemedtoreadjustthenintoJasper’scountenancewasafineimplicationthatshewashisproperty。Hiseyesmetmineforamoment，anditwasexactlyasifhehadsaidtome"Iknowwhatyouthink，butIdon’tcarearap。"

WhatIreallythoughtwasthathewasselfishbeyondthelimits：

thatwasthesubstanceofmylittlerevelation。Youthisalmostalwaysselfish，justasitisalmostalwaysconceited，and，afterall，whenit’scombinedwithhealthandgoodparts，goodlooksandgoodspirits，ithasarighttobe，andIeasilyforgiveitifitbereallyyouth。Stillit’saquestionofdegree，andwhatstuckoutofJasperNettlepoint——if，ofcourse，onehadtheintelligenceforit——

wasthathisegotismhadahardness，hisloveofhisownwayanavidity。Theseelementswerejauntyandprosperous，theywereaccustomedtoprevail。Hewasfond，veryfond，ofwomen；theywerenecessarytohim——thatwasinhistype；buthewasn’tintheleastinlovewithGraceMavis。AmongthereflexionsIquicklymadethiswastheonethatwasmosttothepoint。Therewasadegreeofawkwardness，afteraminute，inthewaywewereplantedthere，thoughtheapprehensionofitwasdoubtlessnotintheleastwithhimself。

Todissimulatemyownshareinit，atanyrate，Iaskedhimhowhismothermightbe。

Hisanswerwasunexpected。"Youhadbettergodownandsee。"

"NottillMissMavisistiredofme。"

ShesaidnothingtothisandImadeherwalkagain。Forsomeminutesshefailedtospeak；then，ratherabruptly，shebegan："I’veseenyoutalkingtothatladywhositsatourtable——theonewhohassomanychildren。"

"Mrs。Peck？Ohyes，onehasinevitablytalkedwithMrs。Peck。"

"Doyouknowherverywell？"

"Onlyasoneknowspeopleatsea。Anacquaintancemakesitself。Itdoesn’tmeanverymuch。"

"Shedoesn’tspeaktome——shemightifshewanted。"

"That’sjustwhatshesaysofyou——thatyoumightspeaktoher。"

"Ohifshe’swaitingforthat！"saidmycompanionwithalaugh。Thensheadded："Shelivesinourstreet，nearlyopposite。"

"Precisely。That’sthereasonwhyshethinksyoucoyorhaughty。

Shehasseenyousooftenandseemstoknowsomuchaboutyou。"

"Whatdoessheknowaboutme？"

"Ahyoumustaskher——Ican’ttellyou！"

"Idon’tcarewhatsheknows，"saidmyyounglady。Afteramomentshewenton："ShemusthaveseenIain’tverysociable。"Andthen，"Whatareyoulaughingat？"sheasked。

"Well"——myamusementwasdifficulttoexplain——"you’renotverysociable，andyetsomehowyouare。Mrs。Peckis，atanyrate，andthoughtthatoughttomakeiteasyforyoutoenterintoconversationwithher。"

"OhIdon’tcareforherconversation——Iknowwhatitamountsto。"I

madenoreply——Iscarcelyknewwhatreplytomake——andthegirlwenton："IknowwhatshethinksandIknowwhatshesays。"StillIwassilent，butthenextmomentIsawmydiscretionhadbeenwasted，forMissMavisputtomestraight："DoesshemakeoutthatsheknowsMr。

Porterfield？"

"No，sheonlyclaimssheknowsaladywhoknowshim。"

"Yes，that’sit——Mrs。Jeremie。Mrs。Jeremie’sanidiot！"Iwasn’tinapositiontocontrovertthis，andpresentlymyyoungladysaidshewouldsitdown。Ileftherinherchair——Isawthatshepreferredit——andwanderedtoadistance。AfewminuteslaterImetJasperagain，andhestoppedofhisownaccordtosay："Weshallbeinaboutsixintheeveningofoureleventhday——theypromiseit。"

"Ifnothinghappens，ofcourse。"

"Well，what’sgoingtohappen？"

"That’sjustwhatI’mwondering！"AndIturnedawayandwentbelowwiththefoolishbutinnocentsatisfactionofthinkingIhadmystifiedhim。

CHAPTERIV

"Idon’tknowwhattodo，andyoumusthelpme，"Mrs。Nettlepointsaidtome，thatevening，assoonasIlookedin。

"I’lldowhatIcan——butwhat’sthematter？"

"Shehasbeencryinghereandgoingon——shehasquiteupsetme。"

"Crying？Shedoesn’tlooklikethat。"

"Exactly，andthat’swhatstartledme。Shecameintoseemethisafternoon，asshehasdonebefore，andwetalkedoftheweatherandtherunoftheshipandthemannersofthestewardessandothersuchtrifles，andthensuddenly，inthemidstofit，asshesatthere，onnovisiblepretext，sheburstintotears。Iaskedherwhatailedherandtriedtocomforther，butshedidn’texplain；shesaiditwasnothing，theeffectofthesea，ofthemonotony，oftheexcitement，ofleavinghome。Iaskedherifithadanythingtodowithherprospects，withhermarriage；whethershefindsasthisdrawsnearthatherheartisn’tinit。Itoldhershemustn’tbenervous，thatIcouldenterintothat——inshortIsaidwhatIcould。AllsherepliedwasthatsheISnervous，verynervous，butthatitwasalreadyover；andthenshejumpedupandkissedmeandwentaway。

Doesshelookasifshehasbeencrying？"Mrs。Nettlepointwoundup。

"HowcanItell，whensheneverquitsthathorridveil？It’sasifshewereashamedtoshowherface。"

"She’skeepingitforLiverpool。ButIdon’tlikesuchincidents，"

saidMrs。Nettlepoint。"IthinkIoughttogoabove。"

"Andisthatwhereyouwantmetohelpyou？"

"Ohwithyourarmandthatsortofthing，yes。ButImayhavetolooktoyouforsomethingmore。Ifeelasifsomethingweregoingtohappen。"

"That’sexactlywhatIsaidtoJasperthismorning。"

"Andwhatdidhesay？"

"Heonlylookedinnocent——asifhethoughtImeantafogorastorm。"

"Heavenforbid——itisn’tthat！Ishallneverbegood-naturedagain，"

Mrs。Nettlepointwenton；"neverhaveagirlputonmethatway。Youalwayspayforit——therearealwaystiresomecomplications。WhatI’mafraidofisafterwegetthere。She’llthrowupherengagement；

therewillbedreadfulscenes；Ishallbemixedupwiththemandhavetolookafterherandkeepherwithme。Ishallhavetostaytherewithhertillshecanbesentback，oreventakeheruptoLondon。

Doyouseeallthat？"

Ilistenedrespectfully；afterwhichIobserved："You’reafraidofyourson。"

Shealsohadapause。"Itdependsonhowyoumeanit。"

"Therearethingsyoumightsaytohim——andwithyourmanner；becauseyouhaveone，youknow，whenyouchoose。"

"Verylikely，butwhat’smymannertohis？Besides，IHAVEsaideverythingtohim。ThatisI’vesaidthegreatthing——thathe’smakingherimmenselytalkedabout。"

"Andofcourseinanswertothathehasaskedyouhowyouknow，andyou’vetoldhimyouhaveitfromme。"

"I’vehadtotellhim；andhesaysit’snoneofyourbusiness。"

"Iwishhe’dsaythat，"Iremarked，"tomyface。"

"He’lldosoperfectlyifyougivehimachance。That’swhereyoucanhelpme。Quarrelwithhim——he’srathergoodataquarrel；andthatwilldiverthimanddrawhimoff。"

"ThenI’mready，"Ireturned，"todiscussthematterwithhimfortherestofthevoyage。"

"Verywell；Icountonyou。Buthe’llaskyou，asheasksme，whatthedeuceyouwanthimtodo。"

"Togotobed！"——andI’mafraidIlaughed。

"Ohitisn’tajoke。"

Ididn’twanttobeirritating，butImademypoint。"That’sexactlywhatItoldyouatfirst。"

"Yes，butdon’texult；Ihatepeoplewhoexult。Jasperasksofme，"

shewenton，"whyheshouldmindherbeingtalkedaboutifshedoesn’tminditherself。"

"I’lltellhimwhy，"Ireplied；andMrs。Nettlepointsaidsheshouldbeexceedinglyobligedtomeandrepeatedthatshewouldindeedtakethefield。

IlookedforJasperabovethatsameevening，butcircumstancesdidn’tfavourmyquest。Ifoundhim——thatisIgatheredhewasagainensconcedbehindthelifeboatwithMissMavis；buttherewasaneedlessviolenceinbreakingintotheircommunion，andIputoffourinterviewtillthenextday。ThenItookthefirstopportunity，atbreakfast，tomakesureofit。HewasinthesaloonwhenIwentinandwaspreparingtoleavethetable；butIstoppedhimandaskedifhewouldgivemeaquarterofanhourondeckalittlelater——therewassomethingparticularIwantedtosaytohim。Hesaid"Ohyes，ifyoulike"——withjustavisiblesurprise，butIthoughtwithplentyofassurance。WhenIhadfinishedmybreakfastIfoundhimsmokingontheforward-deckandIimmediatelybegan："I’mgoingtosaysomethingyouwon’tatalllike；toaskyouaquestionyou’llprobablydenounceforimpertinent。"

"IcertainlyshallifIfinditso，"saidJasperNettlepoint。

"Well，ofcoursemywarninghasmeantthatIdon’tcareifyoudo。

I’magooddealolderthanyouandI’mafriend——ofmanyyears——ofyourmother。There’snothingIlikelessthantobemeddlesome，butIthinkthesethingsgivemeacertainright——asortofprivilege。

Besideswhichmyinquirywillspeakforitself。"

"Whysomanydamnedpreliminaries？"myyoungmanaskedthroughhissmoke。

Welookedintoeachother’seyesamoment。Whatindeedwashismother’smanner——herbestmanner——comparedwithhis？"Areyoupreparedtoberesponsible？"

"Toyou？"

"Dearno——totheyoungladyherself。I’mspeakingofcourseofMissMavis。"

"Ahyes，mymothertellsmeyouhavehergreatlyonyourmind。"

"Sohasyourmotherherself——now。"

"She’ssogoodastosayso——toobligeyou。"

"She’dobligemeagreatdealmorebyreassuringme。IknowperfectlyofyourknowingI’vetoldherthatMissMavisisgreatlytalkedabout。"

"Yes，butwhatonearthdoesitmatter？"

"Itmattersasasign。"

"Asignofwhat？"

"Thatshe’sinafalseposition。"

Jasperpuffedhiscigarwithhiseyesonthehorizon，andIhad，alittleunexpectedly，thesenseofproducingacertaineffectonhim。

"Idon’tknowwhetherit’sYOURbusiness，whatyou’reattemptingtodiscussbutitreallystrikesmeit’snoneofmine。WhathaveItodowiththetattlewithwhichapackofoldwomenconsolethemselvesfornotbeingsea-sick？"

"DoyoucallittattlethatMissMavisisinlovewithyou？"

"Drivelling。"

"Then，"Iretorted，"you’reveryungrateful。Thetattleofapackofoldwomenhasthisimportance，thatshesuspects，orsheknows，itexists，andthatdecentgirlsareforthemostpartverysensitivetothatsortofthing。Tobepreparednottoheeditinthiscaseshemusthaveareason，andthereasonmustbetheoneI’vetakenthelibertytocallyourattentionto。"

"Inlovewithmeinsixdays，justlikethat？"——andhestilllookedawaythroughnarrowedeyelids。

"There’snoaccountingfortastes，andsixdaysatseaareequivalenttosixtyonland。Idon’twanttomakeyoutooproud。Ofcourseifyourecogniseyourresponsibilityit’sallrightandI’venothingtosay。"

"Idon’tseewhatyoumean，"hepresentlyreturned。

"Surelyyououghttohavethoughtofthatbythistime。She’sengagedtobemarried，andthegentlemanshe’sengagedtoistomeetheratLiverpool。Thewholeshipknowsit——though_I_didn’ttellthem！——andthewholeship’swatchingher。It’simpertinentifyoulike，justasIammyself，butwemakealittleworldheretogetherandwecan’tblinkitsconditions。WhatIaskyouiswhetheryou’repreparedtoallowhertogiveupthegentlemanI’vejustmentionedforyoursake。"

Jasperspokeinamomentasifhedidn’tunderstand。"Formysake？"

"Tomarryherifshebreakswithhim。"

Heturnedhiseyesfromthehorizontomyown，andIfoundastrangeexpressioninthem。"HasMissMaviscommissionedyoutogointothat？"

"Notintheleast。"

"Wellthen，Idon’tquitesee——！"

"Itisn’tasfromanotherImakeit。Letitcomefromyourself——TO

yourself。"

"Lord，youmustthinkIleadmyselfalife！"hecriedasincompassionformysimplicity。"That’saquestiontheyoungladymayputtomeanymomentitpleasesher。"

"Letmethenexpressthehopethatshewill。Butwhatwillyouanswer？"

"Mydearsir，itseemstomethatinspiteofallthetitlesyou’veenumeratedyou’venoreasontoexpectI’lltellyou。"Heturnedaway，andIdedicatedinperfectsincerityadeepsoresightothethoughtofouryoungwoman。Atthis，undertheimpressionofit，hefacedmeagainand，lookingatmefromheadtofoot，demanded："Whatisityouwantmetodo？"

"Iputittoyourmotherthatyououghttogotobed。"

"Youhadbetterdothatyourself！"hereplied。

Thistimehewalkedoff，andIreflectedratherdolefullythattheonlyclearresultofmyundertakingwouldprobablyhavebeentomakeitvividtohimthatshewasinlovewithhim。Mrs。Nettlepointcameupasshehadannounced，butthedaywashalfover：itwasnearlythreeo’clock。Shewasaccompaniedbyherson，whoestablishedherondeck，arrangedherchairandhershawls，sawshewasprotectedfromsunandwind，andforanhourwasveryproperlyattentive。

WhilethiswentonGraceMaviswasnotvisible，nordidshereappearduringthewholeafternoon。Ihadn’tobservedthatshehadasyetbeenabsentfromthedeckforsolongaperiod。Jasperlefthismother，butcamebackatintervalstoseehowshegoton，andwhensheaskedwhereMissMavismightbeansweredthathehadn’ttheleastidea。Isatwithmyfriendatherparticularrequest：shetoldmesheknewthatifIdidn’tMrs。PeckandMrs。Gotchwouldmaketheirapproach，sothatImustactasawatch-dog。Shewasflurriedandfatiguedwithhermigration，andIthinkthatGraceMavis’schoosingthisoccasionforretirementsuggestedtoheralittlethatshehadbeenmadeafoolof。Sheremarkedthatthegirl’snotbeingthereshowedherforthebarbariansheonlycouldbe，andthatsheherselfwasreallyverygoodsotohaveputherselfout；herchargewasamerebore：thatwastheendofit。Icouldseethatmycompanion’sadventquickenedthespeculativeactivityoftheotherladiestheywatchedherfromtheoppositesideofthedeck，keepingtheireyesfixedonherverymuchasthemanatthewheelkepthisonthecourseoftheship。Mrs。Peckplainlyhaddesigns，anditwasfromthisdangerthatMrs。Nettlepointavertedherface。

"It’sjustaswesaid，"sheremarkedtomeaswesatthere。"It’slikethebucketsinthewell。WhenIcomeupeverythingelsegoesdown。"

"No，notatalleverythingelse——sinceJasperremainshere。"

"Remains？Idon’tseehim。"

"Hecomesandgoes——it’sthesamething。"

"Hegoesmorethanhecomes。Butn’enparlonsplus；Ihaven’tgainedanything。Idon’tadmiretheseaatall——whatisitbutamagnifiedwater-tank？Ishan’tcomeupagain。"

"I’veanideashe’llstayinhercabinnow，"Isaid。"Shetellsmeshehasonetoherself。"Mrs。Nettlepointrepliedthatshemightdoassheliked，andIrepeatedtoherthelittleconversationIhadhadwithJasper。

Shelistenedwithinterest，but"Marryher？Mercy！"sheexclaimed。

"Ilikethefinefreedomwithwhichyougivemysonaway。"

"Youwouldn’tacceptthat？"

"WhyintheworldshouldI？"

"ThenIdon’tunderstandyourposition。"

"Goodheavens，IHAVEnone！Itisn’tapositiontobetiredofthewholething。"

"Youwouldn’tacceptiteveninthecaseIputtohim——thatofherbelievingshehadbeenencouragedtothrowoverpoorPorterfield？"

"Noteven——noteven。Whocanknowwhatshebelieves？"

Itbroughtmebacktowherewehadstartedfrom。"ThenyoudoexactlywhatIsaidyouwould——youshowmeafineexampleofmaternalimmorality。"

"Maternalfiddlesticks！Itwasshewhobeganit。"

"Thenwhydidyoucomeuptoday？"Iasked。

"Tokeepyouquiet。"

Mrs。Nettlepoint’sdinnerwasservedondeck，butIwentintothesaloon。Jasperwasthere，butnotGraceMavis，asIhadhalf-

expected。Isoughttolearnfromhimwhathadbecomeofher，ifshewereill——hemusthavethoughtIhadanodiouspertinacity——andherepliedthatheknewnothingwhateverabouther。Mrs。Pecktalkedtome——ortriedto——ofMrs。Nettlepoint，expatiatingonthegreatinterestithadbeentoseeher；onlyitwasapityshedidn’tseemmoresociable。TothisImadeanswerthatshewastobeexcusedonthescoreofhealth。

"Youdon’tmeantosayshe’ssickonthispond？"

"No，she’sunwellinanotherway。"

"IguessIknowtheway！"Mrs。Pecklaughed。Andthensheadded："I

supposeshecameuptolookafterherpet。"

"Herpet？"Isetmyface。

"WhyMissMavis。We’vetalkedenoughaboutthat。"

"Quiteenough。Idon’tknowwhatthathashadtodowithit。MissMavis，sofarasI’venoticed，hasn’tbeenabovetoday。"

"Ohitgoesonallthesame。"

"Itgoeson？"

"Well，it’stoolate。"

"Toolate？"

"Well，you’llsee。There’llbearow。"

Thiswasn’tcomforting，butIdidn’trepeatitondeck。Mrs。

Nettlepointreturnedearlytohercabin，professingherselfinfinitelyspent。Ididn’tknowwhat"wenton，"butGraceMaviscontinuednottoshow。Ilookedinlate，foragood-nighttomyfriend，andlearnedfromherthatthegirlhadn’tbeentoher。Shehadsentthestewardesstoherroomfornews，toseeifshewereillandneededassistance，andthestewardesshadcomebackwithmerementionofhernotbeingthere。Iwentaboveafterthis；thenightwasnotquitesofairandthedeckalmostempty。InamomentJasperNettlepointandouryoungladymovedpastmetogether。"Ihopeyou’rebetter！"Icalledafterher；andshetossedmeoverhershoulder——"Ohyes，Ihadaheadache；buttheairnowdoesmegood！"

Iwentdownagain——Iwastheonlypersontherebutthey，andIwantednottoseemtodogtheirsteps——and，returningtoMrs。Nettlepoint’sroom，found（herdoorwasopentothelittlepassage）thatshewasstillsittingup。

"She’sallright！"Isaid。"She’sonthedeckwithJasper。"

Thegoodladylookedupatmefromherbook。"Ididn’tknowyoucalledthatallright。"

"Well，it’sbetterthansomethingelse。"

"Thanwhatelse？"

"SomethingIwasalittleafraidof。"Mrs。Nettlepointcontinuedtolookatme；sheaskedagainwhatthatmightbe。"I’lltellyouwhenwe’reashore，"Isaid。

ThenextdayIwaitedonherattheusualhourofmymorningvisit，andfoundhernotalittledistraught。"Thesceneshavebegun，"shesaid；"youknowItoldyouIshouldn’tgetthroughwithoutthem！Youmademenervouslastnight——Ihaven’ttheleastideawhatyoumeant；

butyoumademehorriblynervous。Shecameintoseemeanhourago，andIhadthecouragetosaytoher：’Idon’tknowwhyIshouldn’ttellyoufranklythatI’vebeenscoldingmysonaboutyou。’OfcoursesheaskedwhatImeantbythat，andIletherknow。’Itseemstomehedragsyouabouttheshiptoomuchforagirlinyourposition。Hehastheairofnotrememberingthatyoubelongtosomeoneelse。There’sawantoftasteandevenawantofrespectinit。’

Thatbroughtonanoutbreak：shebecameveryviolent。"

"Doyoumeanindignant？"

"Yes，indignant，andaboveallflusteredandexcited——atmypresumingtosupposeherrelationswithmysonnottheverysimplestintheworld。ImightscoldhimasmuchasIliked——thatwasbetweenourselves；butshedidn’tseewhyIshouldmentionsuchmatterstoherself。DidIthinksheallowedhimtotreatherwithdisrespect？

Thatideawasn’tmuchofacomplimenttoeitherofthem！Hehadtreatedherbetterandbeenkindertoherthanmostotherpeople——

therewereveryfewontheshipwhohadn’tbeeninsulting。Sheshouldbegladenoughwhenshegotoffit，toherownpeople，tosomeonewhomnobodywouldhavearighttospeakof。Whatwasthereinherpositionthatwasn’tperfectlynatural？whatwastheideaofmakingafussaboutherposition？DidImeanthatshetookittooeasily——thatshedidn’tthinkasmuchassheoughtaboutMr。

Porterfield？Didn’tIbelieveshewasattachedtohim——didn’tI

believeshewasjustcountingthehourstillshesawhim？Thatwouldbethehappiestmomentofherlife。ItshowedhowlittleIknewherifIthoughtanythingelse。"

"Allthatmusthavebeenratherfine——Ishouldhavelikedtohearit，"Isaidafterquitehangingonmyfriend’slips。"Andwhatdidyoureply？"

"OhIgrovelled；IassuredherthatIaccusedher——asregardsmyson——

ofnothingworsethananexcessofgoodnature。Shehelpedhimtopasshistime——heoughttobeimmenselyobliged。AlsothatitwouldbeaveryhappymomentformetoowhenIshouldhandherovertoMr。

Porterfield。"

"Andwillyoucomeuptoday？"

"Noindeed——Ithinkshe’lldobeautifullynow。"

Iheavedthistimeasighofrelief。"All’swellthatendswell！"

Jasperspentthatdayagreatdealoftimewithhismother。Shehadtoldmehowmuchshehadlackedhithertoproperopportunitytotalkoverwithhimtheirmovementsafterdisembarking。Everythingchangesalittlethelasttwoorthreedaysofavoyage；thespellisbrokenandnewcombinationstakeplace。GraceMaviswasneitherondecknoratdinner，andIdrewMrs。Peck’sattentiontotheextremeproprietywithwhichshenowconductedherself。Shehadspentthedayinmeditationandjudgeditbesttocontinuetomeditate。

"Ahshe’safraid，"saidmyimplacableneighbour。

"Afraidofwhat？"

"Well，thatwe’lltelltaleswhenwegetthere。"

"Whomdoyoumeanby’we’？"

"Well，thereareplenty——onashiplikethis。"

"ThenIthink，"Ireturned，"wewon’t。"

"Maybewewon’thavethechance，"saidthedreadfullittlewoman。

"Ohatthatmoment"——Ispokefromafullexperience——"universalgenialityreigns。"

Mrs。Peckhoweverknewlittleofanysuchlaw。"Iguessshe’safraidallthesame。"

"Somuchthebetter！"

"Yes——somuchthebetter！"

Allthenextdaytoothegirlremainedinvisible，andMrs。

Nettlepointtoldmeshehadn’tlookedin。SheherselfhadaccordinglyinquiredbythestewardessifshemightbereceivedinMissMavis’sownquarters，andtheyoungladyhadrepliedthattheywerelitteredupwiththingsandunfitforvisitors：shewaspackingatrunkover。Jaspermadeupforhisdevotiontohismotherthedaybeforebynowspendingagreatdealofhistimeinthesmoking-room。

Iwantedtosaytohim"Thisismuchbetter，"butIthoughtitwisertoholdmytongue。IndeedIhadbeguntofeeltheemotionofprospectivearrival——thesenseofthereturntoEuropealwayskeptitsintensity——andhadtherebythelessattentionforothermatters。

Itwilldoubtlessappeartothecriticalreaderthatmyexpenditureofinteresthadbeenoutofproportiontothevulgarappearancesofwhichmystorygivesanaccount，buttothisIcanonlyreplythattheeventwastojustifyme。Wesightedland，thedimyetrichcoastofIreland，aboutsunset，andIleanedonthebulwarkandtookitin。

"Itdoesn’tlooklikemuch，doesit？"Iheardavoicesay，besideme；

whereupon，turning，IfoundGraceMavisathand。Almostforthefirsttimeshehadherveilup，andIthoughtherverypale。

"Itwillbemoretomorrow，"Isaid。

"Ohyes，agreatdealmore。"

"Thefirstsightofland，atsea，changeseverything，"Iwenton。

"Italwaysaffectsmeaswakingupfromadream。It’sareturntoreality。"

Foramomentshemademenoresponse；thenshesaid"Itdoesn’tlookveryrealyet。"

"No，andmeanwhile，thislovelyevening，onecanputitthatthedream’sstillpresent。"

Shelookedupatthesky，whichhadabrightness，thoughthelightofthesunhadleftitandthatofthestarshadn’tbegun。"ItISalovelyevening。"

"Ohyes，withthisweshalldo。"

Shestoodsomemomentsmore，whilethegrowingduskeffacedthelineofthelandmorerapidlythanourprogressmadeitdistinct。Shesaidnothingmore，sheonlylookedinfrontofher；butherveryquietnesspromptedmetosomethingsuggestiveofsympathyandservice。Itwasdifficultindeedtostriketherightnote——somethingsseemedtoowideofthemarkandotherstooimportunate。Atlast，unexpectedly，sheappearedtogivememychance。Irrelevantly，abruptlyshebrokeout："Didn’tyoutellmeyouknewMr。

Porterfield？"

"Dearme，yes——Iusedtoseehim。I’veoftenwantedtospeaktoyouofhim。"

SheturnedherfaceonmeandinthedeepenedeveningIimaginedhermorepale。"Whatgoodwouldthatdo？"

"Whyitwouldbeapleasure，"Irepliedratherfoolishly。

"Doyoumeanforyou？"

"Well，yes——callitthat，"Ismiled。

"Didyouknowhimsowell？"

MysmilebecamealaughandIlostalittlemyconfidence。"You’renoteasytomakespeechesto。"

"Ihatespeeches！"Thewordscamefromherlipswithaforcethatsurprisedme；theywereloudandhard。ButbeforeIhadtimetowondershewentonalittledifferently。"Shallyouknowhimwhenyouseehim？"

"Perfectly，Ithink。"HermannerwassostrangethatIhadtonoticeitinsomeway，andIjudgedthebestwaywasjocularly；soIadded：

"Shan’tyou？"

"Ohperhapsyou’llpointhimout！"Andshewalkedquicklyaway。AsIlookedafterhertherecametomeaperverse，ratheraprovokingconsciousnessofhavingduringthepreviousdays，andespeciallyinspeakingtoJasperNettlepoint，interferedwithhersituationinsomedegreetoherloss。Therewasanoddpangformeinseeinghermoveaboutalone；IfeltsomehowresponsibleforitandaskedmyselfwhyI

couldn’thavekeptmyhandsoff。IhadseenJasperinthesmoking-

roommorethanoncethatday，asIpassedit，andhalfanhourbeforethishadobserved，throughtheopendoor，thathewasthere。Hehadbeenwithhersomuchthatwithouthimshenowstruckoneasbereavedandforsaken。Thiswasreallybetter，nodoubt，butsuperficiallyitmoved——andIadmitwiththelastinconsequence——one’spity。Mrs。

Peckwoulddoubtlesshaveassuredmethattheirseparationwasgammon：theydidn’tshowtogetherondeckandinthesaloon，buttheymadeitupelsewhere。Thesecretplacesonshipboardarenotnumerous；Mrs。Peck’s"elsewhere"wouldhavebeenvague，andIknownotwhatlicenceherimaginationtook。ItwasdistinctthatJasperhadfallenoff，butofcoursewhathadpassedbetweenthemonthisscorewasn’tsoandcouldneverbe。Lateron，throughhismother，I

hadHISversionofthat，butImayremarkthatIgaveitnocredit。

PoorMrs。Nettlepoint，ontheotherhand，wasofcoursetogiveitall。Iwasalmostcapable，afterthegirlhadleftme，ofgoingtomyyoungmanandsaying："Afterall，doreturntoheralittle，justtillwegetin！Itwon’tmakeanydifferenceafterweland。"AndI

don’tthinkitwasthefearhewouldtellmeIwasanidiotthatpreventedme。AtanyratethenexttimeIpassedthedoorofthesmoking-roomIsawhehadleftit。IpaidmyusualvisittoMrs。

Nettlepointthatnight，butItroubledhernofurtheraboutMissMavis。Shehadmadeuphermindthateverythingwassmoothandsettlednow，anditseemedtomeIhadworriedher，andthatshehadworriedherself，insufficiency。Ilefthertoenjoythedeepeningforetasteofarrival，whichhadtakenpossessionofhermind。BeforeturninginIwentaboveandfoundmorepassengersondeckthanIhadeverseensolate。Jaspermovedaboutamongthemalone，butI

forboretojoinhim。ThecoastofIrelandhaddisappeared，butthenightandtheseawereperfect。Onthewaytomycabin，whenIcamedown，Imetthestewardessinoneofthepassages，andtheideaenteredmyheadtosaytoher："DoyouhappentoknowwhereMissMavisis？"

"Whyshe’sinherroom，sir，atthishour。"

"DoyousupposeIcouldspeaktoher？"IthadcomeintomymindtoaskherwhyshehadwantedtoknowofmeifIshouldrecogniseMr。

Porterfield。

"Nosir，"saidthestewardess；"shehasgonetobed。"

"That’sallright。"AndIfollowedtheyounglady’sexcellentexample。

Thenextmorning，whileIdressed，thestewardofmysideoftheshipcametomeasusualtoseewhatIwanted。Butthefirstthinghesaidto，mewas："Ratherabadjob，sir——apassengermissing。"AndwhileItookIscarceknowwhatinstantchillfromit，"Alady，sir，"

hewenton——"whomIthinkyouknew。PoorMissMavis，sir。"

"MISSING？"Icried——staringathimandhorror-stricken。

"She’snotontheship。Theycan’tfindher。"

"ThenwheretoGodisshe？"

Irecallhisqueerface。"Wellsir，IsupposeyouknowthataswellasI。"

"Doyoumeanshehasjumpedoverboard？"

"Sometimeinthenight，sir——onthequiet。Butit’sbeyondeveryone，thewaysheescapednotice。Theyusuallysees’em，sir。Itmusthavebeenabouthalf-pasttwo。Lord，butshewassharp，sir。

Shedidn’tsomuchasmakeasplash。Theysayshe’ADcomeagainstherwill，sir。"

Ihaddroppeduponmysofa——Ifeltfaint。Themanwenton，likingtotalkaspersonsofhisclassdowhentheyhavesomethinghorribletotell。Sheusuallyrangforthestewardessearly，butthismorningofcoursetherehadbeennoring。Thestewardesshadgoneinallthesameabouteighto’clockandfoundthecabinempty。Thatwasaboutanhourprevious。Herthingswerethereinconfusion——thethingssheusuallyworewhenshewentabove。Thestewardessthoughtshehadbeenabitoddthenightbefore，buthadwaitedalittleandthengoneback。MissMavishadn’tturnedup——andshedidn’tturnup。Thestewardessbegantolookforher——shehadn’tbeenseenondeckorinthesaloon。Besides，shewasn’tdressed——nottoshowherself；allherclotheswereinherroom。Therewasanotherlady，anoldlady，Mrs。Nettlepoint——Iwouldknowher——thatshewassometimeswith，butthestewardesshadbeenwithHERandknewMissMavishadn’tcomenearherthatmorning。ShehadspokentoHIMandtheyhadtakenaquietlook——theyhadhuntedeverywhere。Aship’sabigplace，butyoudidcometotheendofit，andifapersonwasn’ttherewhythereitwas。

Inshortanhourhadpassedandtheyoungladywasnotaccountedfor：

fromwhichImightjudgeifsheeverwouldbe。Thewatchcouldn’taccountforher，butnodoubtthefishesintheseacould——poormiserablepitifullady！ThestewardessandhehadofcoursethoughtittheirdutytospeakatoncetotheDoctor，andtheDoctorhadspokenimmediatelytotheCaptain。TheCaptaindidn’tlikeit——theyneverdid，buthe’dtrytokeepitquiet——theyalwaysdid。

BythetimeIsucceededinpullingmyselftogetherandgettingon，afterafashion，therestofmyclothesIhadlearnedthatMrs。

Nettlepointwouldn’tyethavebeentold，unlessthestewardesshadbrokenittoherwithinthepreviousfewminutes。Hersonknew，theyounggentlemanontheothersideoftheship——hehadtheothersteward；mymanhadseenhimcomeoutofhiscabinandrushabove，justbeforehecameintome。HeHADgoneabove，mymanwassure；hehadn’tgonetotheoldlady’scabin。Icatchagainthesenseofmydreadfullyseeingsomethingatthatmoment，catchthewildflash，underthesteward’swords，ofJasperNettlepointleaping，withamadcompunctioninhisyoungagility，overthesideoftheship。I

hastentoadd，however，thatnosuchincidentwasdestinedtocontributeitshorrortopoorGraceMavis’sunwitnessedandunlightedtragicact。Whatfollowedwasmiserableenough，butIcanonlyglanceatit。WhenIgottoMrs。Nettlepoint’sdoorshewastherewithashawlabouther；thestewardesshadjusttoldherandshewasdashingouttocometome。Imadehergoback——IsaidIwouldgoforJasper。IwentforhimbutImissedhim，partlynodoubtbecauseitwasreallyatfirsttheCaptainIwasafter。Ifoundthispersonageandfoundhimhighlyscandalised，buthegavemenohopethatwewereinerror，andhisdispleasure，expressedwithseamanlikestrength，wasadefinitesettlementofthequestion。Fromthedeck，whereI

merelyturnedroundandlooked，Isawthelightofanothersummerday，thecoastofIrelandgreenandnearandtheseaofamorecharmingcolourthanithadshownatall。WhenIcamebelowagainJasperhadpassedback；hehadgonetohiscabinandhismotherhadjoinedhimthere。HeremainedtheretillwereachedLiverpool——I

neversawhim。Hismother，afteralittle，athisrequest，lefthimalone。Alltheworldwentabovetolookatthelandandchatteraboutourtragedy，butthepoorladyspenttheday，dismallyenough，inherroom。Itseemedtome，thedreadfulday，intolerablylong；I

wasthinkingsoofvague，ofinconceivableyetinevitablePorterfield，andofmyhavingtofacehimsomehowonthemorrow。NowofcourseIknewwhyshehadaskedmeifIshouldrecognisehim；shehaddelegatedtomementallyacertainpleasantoffice。IgaveMrs。

PeckandMrs。Gotchawideberth——Icouldn’ttalktothem。Icould，oratleastIdidalittle，toMrs。Nettlepoint，butwithtoomanyreservesforcomfortoneitherside，sinceIquitefelthowlittleitwouldnowmakeforeasetomentionJaspertoher。Iwasobligedtoassumebymysilencethathehadhadnothingtodowithwhathadhappened；andofcourseIneverreallyascertainedwhatheHADhadtodo。Thesecretofwhatpassedbetweenhimandthestrangegirlwhowouldhavesacrificedhermarriagetohimonsoshortanacquaintanceremainsshutupinhisbreast。Hismother，Iknow，wenttohisdoorfromtimetotime，butherefusedheradmission。Thatevening，tobehumanataventure，Irequestedthestewardtogoinandaskhimifheshouldcaretoseeme，andthegoodmanreturnedwithananswerwhichhecandidlytransmitted。"Notintheleast！"——JasperapparentlywasalmostasscandalisedastheCaptain。

AtLiverpool，atthedock，whenwehadtouched，twentypeoplecameonboardandIhadalreadymadeoutMr。Porterfieldatadistance。Hewaslookingupatthesideofthegreatvesselwithdisappointmentwritten——formystrainedeyes——inhisface；disappointmentatnotseeingthewomanhehadsolongawaitedleanoveritandwaveherhandkerchieftohim。Everyonewaslookingathim，everyonebutshe——hisidentityflewaboutinamoment——andIwonderedifitdidn’tstrikehim。Heusedtobegauntandangular，buthadgrownalmostfatandstoopedalittle。Theintervalbetweenusdiminished——hewasontheplankandthenonthedeckwiththejostlingagentsoftheCustoms；toosoonformyequanimity。Imethiminstantly，however，tosavehimfromexposure——laidmyhandonhimanddrewhimaway，thoughIwassurehehadnoimpressionofhavingseenmebefore。ItwasnottillafterwardsthatIthoughtthisrathercharacteristicallydullofhim。Idrewhimfaraway——IwasconsciousofMrs。PeckandMrs。Gotch，lookingatusaswepassed——intotheemptystalesmoking-

room：heremainedspeechless，andthatstruckmeaslikehim。Ihadtospeakfirst，hecouldn’tevenrelievemebysaying"Isanythingthematter？"Ibrokegroundbyputtingit，feebly，thatshewasill。

Itwasadiremoment。