ey attract too much attention."

I ventured to discriminate. "It's we who attract the attention--by
talking about what doesn't concern us and about what we really don't
know."

"She said the Captain said he'd tell on her as soon as ever we arrive,"
Mrs. Gotch none the less serenely pursued.

"_She_ said--?" I repeated, bewildered.

"Well, he did say so, that he'd think it his duty to inform Mr.
Porterfield when he comes on to meet her--if they keep it up in the same
way," said Mrs. Peck.

"Oh they'll keep it up, don't you fear!" one of the gentlemen exclaimed.

"Dear madam, the Captain's having his joke on you," was, however, my own
congruous reply.

"No, he ain't--he's right down scandalised. He says he regards us all as
a real family and wants the family not to be downright coarse." I felt
Mrs. Peck irritated by my controversial tone: she challenged me with
considerable spirit. "How can you say I don't know it when all the
street knows it and has known it for years--for years and years?" She
spoke as if the girl had been engaged at least for twenty. "What's she
going out for if not to marry him?"

"Perhaps she's going to see how he looks," suggested one of the
gentlemen.

"He'd look queer--if he knew."

"Well, I guess he'll know," said Mrs. Gotch.

"She'd tell him herself--she wouldn't be afraid," the gentleman went on.

"Well she might as well kill him. He'll jump overboard," Mrs. Peck could
foretell.

"Jump overboard?" cried Mrs. Gotch as if she hoped then that Mr.
Porterfield would be told.

"He has just been waiting for this--for long, long years," said Mrs.
Peck.

"Do you happen to know him?" I asked.

She replied at her convenience. "No, but I know a lady who does. Are
you going up?"

I had risen from my place--I had not ordered supper. "I'm going to take
a turn before going to bed."

"Well then you'll see!"

Outside the saloon I hesitated, for Mrs. Peck's admonition made me feel
for a moment that if I went up I should have entered in a manner into her
little conspiracy. But the night was so warm and splendid that I had
been intending to smoke a cigar in the air before going below, and I
didn't see why I should deprive myself of this pleasure in order to seem
not to mind Mrs. Peck. I mounted accordingly and saw a few figures
sitting or moving about in the darkness. The ocean looked black and
small, as it is apt to do at night, and the long mass of the ship, with
its vague