ir? You'll forgive me for
saying of it; but supposing she _do_, sir?"

"No good in supposing, Caudel," said I, suppressing a little movement
of irritation; "no good in obstructing one's path by suppositions stuck
up like so many fences to stop one from advancing. Our first business
is to get to Penzance."

By his motions, and the uneasy shifting of his posture, he discovered
himself ill at ease, but his respectfulness would not allow him to
persevere with his inquiries.

"Caudel," said I, "you may ask me any questions you please. The more
you show yourself really anxious on behalf of Miss Bellassys, the more
shall I honour you. Don't fear. I shall never interpret your concern
for her into a doubt of me. If Lady Amelia absolutely refuses her
sanction, what then remains but to place Miss Bellassys with my sister
and wait till she comes of age?"

So speaking, and now considering that I had said enough, I threw the
end of my cigar overboard and went below.

It was daylight shortly before six, but the grey of the dawn brightened
into sunrise before Grace awoke. Throughout the hours she had slept
without a stir. From time to time I had dozed, chin on breast,
opposite to where she lay. The wind had freshened, and the yacht was
lying well down to it, swarming along, taking buoyantly the little sea
that had risen, and filling the breeze, that was musical with the
harmonies of the taut rigging, with the swift noise of spinning and
seething water. The square of heavens showing in the skylight overhead
wore a hard, marble, windy look, but the pearl-coloured streaks of
vapour floated high and motionless, and I was yachtsman enough to
gather from what I saw that there was nothing more in all this than a
fresh Channel morning, and a sweep of southerly wind that was driving
the _Spitfire_ along her course some eight or nine miles in the hour.

As the misty pink flash of the upper limb of the rising sun struck the
skylight, and made a very prison of the little cabin, with its mirrors
and silver lamp, and glass and brass ornamentation, Grace opened her
eyes. She opened them straight upon me, and, whilst I might have
counted ten, she continued to stare as though she were in a trance;
then the blood flooded her pale cheeks, her eyes grew brilliant with
astonishment, and she sat erect, bringing her hands to her temples as
though she struggled to recollect her wits. However, it was not long
before she rallied, though for s