nxiety
could mar the perfection of that love. She sighed, but the predominant
sensation was relief, not pain. A chapter of her life was turned. She
thanked God that it closed in sunshine!

And now it was the morning of her first day at sea. Tired after her
long overland journey, she had retired to bed while her
fellow-passengers were at dinner, and had slept so soundly in her narrow
bunk that on waking there had been a moment's blank bewilderment before
she could realise her position. A stewardess stood before her bearing
the early cup of tea; on the berth opposite a gaunt, grey-haired woman
was sitting, cup in hand, staring at her with curious eyes.

"Mornin'!" she said tersely. "First introduction. You were asleep when
I turned in last night. Glad you don't snore!"

"Goodness! I never thought of that. How awful!" exclaimed Katrine,
laughing in her turn. She sipped at her cup, and grimaced eloquently.
"Ugh. What is it? Tea or coffee?"

"Mixed," replied the other gravely. "To suit all tastes."

She drank again with apparent enjoyment. "Always drink it myself out of
principle. Charge you too much to leave out a meal... First trip?"

"First time in my life I ever slept in a berth. I'd no idea they were
so comfortable."

The grey-haired lady fumbled beneath her pillow, placed a pair of
spectacles on her nose, and stared across with frank curiosity.

"Bride?"

"I beg your pardon!"

"Unnecessary, thank you. It's my tenth voyage. Met shoals of brides.
You look the type."

Katrine ostentatiously displayed her left hand.

"I hope that's a compliment. As a matter of fact, I am going out to
join some friends in North Bengal."

"Missionaries?"

Katrine jumped till the cup rattled in a threatening manner.

"_No_! Cer-tainly not."

"Humph!" said the grey-haired woman, and scraped the sugar from her cup.
"I'm sorry for _any_ girl," she announced tentatively between the
spoonfuls, "who goes out to one of those lonely plantations... No fun.
No chances. Fifty times worse than at home."

"Is that so? Really? I'm sorry!" Katrine shook her head, and
endeavoured to look perturbed.

The good sleep, the novelty of the surroundings, the glimpse of blue
through the port-hole, combined to produce an exhilarating effect. She
felt gay and mischievous, too light-hearted to resent her companion's
curiosity, but none the less determined not to gratify it. She ate
bread and butter, and sipped at the