the veil. I saw it come aboard."

"The veil of mystery!" she playfully murmured, began to hum a tune and
bit her lip on noticing that it was "Gideon's Band." "Don't you think I
might omit that to-night?"

"No, it's the best thing you do."

"Humph!--mighty poor reason--Aha! I knew it was Harriet."

The Gilmores were beckoning out their window. The actor opened the door
on that side and the maid came warily in. Briefly and in hurried apology
under her breath while dealing out her burdens she told of the
impatience of those below to resume the rehearsal and of their having
driven her to this errand the moment they could. Mrs. Gilmore handed
Hugh a shawl for Ramsey and an umbrella for himself, her husband laid a
mantle on her shoulders, and the maid reopened the door he had shut; but
Hugh called from the one opposite that it was the better way and the
players started for it. The younger pair gave them precedence, a breeze
swept through, the maid reshut her door, Hugh, holding his, bade her
follow her mistress, she sprang to obey and the "veil of mystery," which
caught in the closed door, was stripped from her like a sail from a
wreck.

[Illustration: "Stop!... Stop! the safest place for you on this boat now
is right where you are standing--Phyllis"]

Instantly she crouched and with the swiftness of a wild creature flashed
round and snatched open the door by which she had entered; but a form
pressed between her and the opening and when she threw up her face she
was looking close into the astounded eyes of Hugh Courteney. Her frame
recoiled but not her eyes; his own held them. Without turning he shut
the door at his back as Ramsey closed the one opposite, and still
holding the maid servant's gaze, he followed her slow retreat, and in
that droll depth of voice which earlier had been Ramsey's keenest
amusement said to the eyes so near his own:

"Stop!... Stop! the safest place for you on this boat now is right where
you are standing--Phyllis."

XXXVII

BASILE USES A CANE

There was a gorgeous sunset that day. Many were on the uppermost decks
to see or show it, amid a lively social confusion dull to Hugh but
delightful to Ramsey. In fact, Hugh had begun to want her and the
hurricane-deck to himself.

The actor and his wife were there. And there, indifferent to sunsets but
as hungry as ever for company, was Basile. Dinner, at midday, had
dissolved the group which the twins had for a time held together. The