Geoffrey Sterne said he meant, to the last letter of the
word, and there was no turning him from a decision. Meriel felt the
terror of one who, playing among flowers, sees a sudden vision of a
serpent's head. A moment before their lives had seemed indefinitely
linked, now, in a few months, must come separation, as complete as
though they were at opposite ends of the world, for Sterne now lived
entirely in his country home, and shunned the society of his fellows.
She searched his face for some sign of grief, even of regret, but the
stern features were set in a mask-like composure. The terrible
suspicion stabbed her that he might be _glad_; that he was wearied of
the burden of gratitude!

For the next few days Meriel and Sterne mutually avoided being left
alone, which was the more easily accomplished, as Flora was showing
signs of renewed restlessness and irritability. The novelty of the
voyage had worn off, the heat of the Canal had tried her endurance, and
dreaded symptoms called for renewed vigilance on the part of her
attendants. Now they were out on the Indian Ocean; but for once the
change brought little relief and the nerves of the travellers were tried
still further by a slight accident to the engines, which involved a
slackening of speed. They were within three days' sail of Colombo when
the glass fell sharply after a period of intense heat--a danger signal,
which to the understanding was rendered more alarming by the sound of
hammerings from below, denoting fresh mischief in the machinery. A
cyclonic storm was upon them, and the boat altered her course to avoid
its centre--a perilous business in face of the long chain of reefs
stretching southward from the Laccadives. At nightfall there came up a
grey swell accompanied by almost unbearable heat, the wind rapidly
increased, and in an hour the gale burst upon them in all its fury.
That night was a nightmare of horror, for although the boat was headed
for the open sea, the crippled engines were unable to support the
strain, and she was therefore driven back into the danger zone. The
waters were lashed into a churning fury, the wind yelled with a
deafening menace. Flora cowered in bed in a panic of terror, but to
Meriel the tumult of the elements brought relief rather than dread.
They voiced the tumult of her own mind; the shriek of the wind was as
the shriek of her own tortured heart.

The dawn was breaking when the crash came, a thunderous crash of rock