s mother started with the physician
around the skylights for the texas, and Hugh and Gilmore conversed with
the captain, Mrs. Gilmore, her hands on Ramsey, said to madame:

"I want her now, to begin to make ready for tomorrow evening. My
dear"--to the girl--"I've a dozen dresses that will become you better
than this one."

"Long?" cried Ramsey. "I'll take the lot!" She felt Hugh distantly
looking and listening.

"We won't trade on Sunday," laughed Mrs. Gilmore; "but you
mustn't"--scanning her approvingly--"ever put on a short dress again."

"Ho-oh, I never will!" said Ramsey, with a toss meant for Hugh, who went
by, hurrying aft to meet a newcomer. She started after him. Madame
Hayle, in that direction, had gone into the sick-room, whence Ramsey's
brother Julian, with barely a word to his mother, had come out. Stepping
down into the narrow walk between the roofs of cabin and pantry and
glancing over his shoulder upon the company about the bell, he winced at
sight of his sister's attire. Yet he kept his course and was well
started aft before he saw that he was being met by some one in the
narrow way, and by whom but Marburg. It was that alien whom Hugh was
hastening to reach and on whom Ramsey was staring. He had come up from
the engine room through the steward's department, by the unguarded route
which Basile's ascent had revealed, and now came face to face with a foe
where there was room only for friends to meet and pass. So said the eyes
of each to each, but just then a quick footfall on the cabin roof,
behind and somewhat above him, caused Julian to face round and he
confronted Hugh.

"Mr. Hayle," was Hugh's word, "what will you have, sir?"

"Nothing, sir, of you! What will _you_ have of _me_, sir?"

Ramsey glided by both and halted before the exile, whose scowl vanished
in a look so grateful and supplicating that her words, clearly meant to
justify his presence, caught in her throat: "What will you--have, sir?
My mother?--back again?--and the doctor?"

"Yes," he replied, and then added in German with an anguish of gesture
which was ample interpretation, "yes, for _my_ mother! for my little
brother! Ah, God! he is not dead! He is yet alive! His arms are as
supple as _these_. There is color still in his cheeks!"

She stood dumb with horror. Yet she woke to action as, close beside her,
she heard her brother snarl at Hugh:

"I'll go where I please! Who stops me, God pity him!"

She dropped nimbly from the s