had noticed him at an adjacent table during the
lengthy breakfast; had also been conscious that he had noticed herself.
She expressed her thanks, and in an incredibly short time the chair was
produced, and placed in a comfortable position.

"May I bring mine alongside?" enquired the stranger, and Katrine bowed
assent. She had anticipated the request, and was gratified thereby. On
shipboard one need not trouble about conventional introductions, and it
would be agreeable to have a companion who knew the ropes, and who could
enliven the morning with agreeable tit-bits of information concerning
her fellow-travellers.

She smiled therefore at the handsome fellow in her most friendly manner;
whereupon he smiled back, and glibly burst into autobiography:

"Austin Murray is my name, England is my nation, Engineering is my game,
Bombay my destination."

"Thanks very much," returned Katrine gravely. "Katherine Beverley is my
name--"

"Any relation to the author chap who robbed that poor girl of her cash?"

"I am!"

The terse affirmative had a disturbing effect on Mr Murray's composure.
He had evidently not expected it, and had the grace to look confused.

"I say, you know, I didn't know... 'Pologise! Didn't really mean it
like that!" He pondered, and pondering was struck with a brilliant
inspiration. "I _say_! The couple who came on board with you
yesterday! You don't mean to say--"

"I didn't mean to say," corrected Katrine calmly, "but yes! you have
guessed correctly. That was my brother and his wife!"

"_Brother_!" Mr Murray whistled softly, but made no attempt to
apologise a second time. Katrine diagnosed him as being little in the
habit of eating humble pie.

"I _say_," he exclaimed once more, "if a girl like that gave up all that
for _me_, I should be ruined for life! Bowled over! Eaten up with
conceit. She's a corker! _Isn't_ she a corker, now?"

"She is generally considered to be excessively--corking!" agreed Katrine
demurely, and then suddenly she laughed; a gay, light-hearted laugh.
What a change it was! To sit on this wide shining deck among a crowd of
strangers, to exchange frivolities with one of the handsomest of men,
also a stranger, to feel the sun beat on her neck, on her outstretched
feet, to have nothing to do, and nothing to care for, but her own ease
and enjoyment! She laughed, leaning her head against the back of her
chair; the sun flecked her hair with gold, the clear healthy