entirely dependent on Rex Fortescue for amusement; Mr Dale being
altogether too savage at his recent failure to make an agreeable
associate, which indeed he never was, even at the best of times; while
Brook, willing though he was to do his best, was too pugnacious, ill-
bred, and illiterate to be more than just barely tolerated. Rex
Fortescue and Violet, it was perfectly clear, were daily sinking deeper
into that condition wherein people are conscious of the existence of two
individuals only--their two selves--in the whole world; so that poor
little Blanche would soon have found herself quite out in the cold had
not Mr Evelin taken compassion upon her and devoted himself to her
amusement. He knew London well; and, on comparing notes, it soon
transpired that he knew several people with whom Blanche was also
acquainted; so they got on capitally together, especially as Lance
possessed in an eminent degree the art of making his conversation
interesting. Later on, too, when he had thawed a little, he would
relate story after story of his adventures at the gold-fields, some of
which convulsed his companion with laughter, while others made her
shudder and nestle unconsciously a little closer to the narrator.

But notwithstanding this Blanche still found time to chat occasionally
with Bob. The lad was very fond of steering, indeed he had won the
reputation of being the finest helmsman in the ship, and he was always
ready to take a "trick" at the wheel during either of the dog-watches,
and so give the rightful helmsman a chance to stay "for'ard" and amuse
himself with his shipmates; and when this was the case Blanche generally
used to seat herself in a deck-chair near him, and chatter away upon any
topic which came uppermost.

She had been thus amusing herself one evening when, as eight bells
struck and Bob walked forward on being relieved from the wheel, Lance
Evelin, who had been smoking his cigar on the break of the poop, and
watching from a distance the "carryings-on" of the men upon the
forecastle, sauntered to her side and opened conversation with the
remark--

"How singularly exact a repetition of the same features you will observe
in some families; doubtless you have often noticed it, Miss Lascelles?
Now, there is that fine young fellow Legerton, _anyone_ would recognise
him as a connection of yours, and I have often been on the point of
asking you in what manner you are related to each, other. Am I
unpardonably