raid you think me a prig!"

The grey eyes dwelt on her face with a thoughtful scrutiny.

"Prig! Do I? I am not versed in prigs, but I hardly imagine that they
would be likely to make your somewhat unconventional selection of
friends!" He swung himself gently to and fro, his lips curving in a
humorous smile. "So we are to be ostracised, are we,--you and I, and
the Waster, and the woman who is not--nice! Left to our own devices, by
this very worthy, commonplace crowd? That's good! Thank heaven for
that. I think we can contrive to have a fairly agreeable time. Prom my
own point of view it's a gain, but you are young, and it's your first
voyage. You may regret the crowd."

Katrine considered. Certainly the voyage so far had been strikingly
different from her expectations on embarking. In imagination she had
seen herself the centre of merry parties on deck, dancing beneath the
awnings, competing in deck sports, forming friendships with young people
of her own age, but there were few young people on board, and so far
there had been no dancing. The men played cricket on the sunny side of
the deck, leaving the more shady regions for the loungers who did
nothing; quoits and bean bags had each their votaries, but a single
refusal, prompted by shyness rather than disinclination, had shut her
out from their ranks, and henceforth she had been left severely alone,
labelled undesirable, and mentally coupled with two of the most
unpopular people on board. It had been a disappointment. Always when
looking forward to a visit to India, the voyage had loomed large as one
of the most exciting portions of the whole, but the first days at sea
had been far from exciting. Suppose that Captain Bedford had _not_ come
on board, that she had been left to the tender mercies of Vernon Keith
and Mrs Mannering, knowing full well that even while they talked with
her, the one was longing for the smoke-room, and the other for bridge,
and spicy recollections--how long, how drearily long would have seemed
the days which were yet to come! If Bedford had _not_ come on board;
but he had come; he was even now sitting at her feet, scanning her face
with intent eyes. In his presence disappointment became a problematical
thing; she knew herself to be abundantly content.

"I am quite happy," she said simply. "I have plenty of gaiety ahead,
and I can understand that you want to be quiet. It must have been--
hard, to be so ill, and to have been