our party, as he is evidently a
gentleman; but I soon learned that he was alone."

A few moments later the register was opened for Miss Carleton's
inspection, but she did not have to search long. Half-way down the
first page she found, in the familiar writing of the secretary, the
name which she sought--"Harold Scott Mainwaring."

CHAPTER XVI

MUTUAL EXPLANATIONS

Thanking the captain for his courtesy, Miss Carleton returned to
her accustomed seat on deck, and, since one is never more alone
than when surrounded by a crowd of utter strangers, she felt at
liberty to pursue her own thoughts without interruption.

She could scarcely credit what her own ears had heard or her eyes
had seen. Harold Scott Mainwaring! What could it mean? Could it
be possible that the secretary, having familiarized himself with
the family history of the Mainwarings, was now masquerading under
an assumed name for some object of his own? But she dismissed
this idea at once. She had assured him at Fair Oaks that she
believed him incapable of anything false or dishonorable, and she
would abide by that belief until convinced otherwise. But if this
were indeed his name, what had been his object in assuming the role
of Scott, the secretary? Which was genuine and which assumed? Who
could tell? As if in answer to her thoughts, she saw the subject
of them approaching. He was alone and looking in her direction,
and on reading the recognition in her glance, his own face lighted
with a smile that banished the last shade of resentment and
suspicion from her mind, albeit there was a question in her eyes
which prepared him in a measure for her first words. With a smile
as bright as those with which she had been accustomed to greet him
at Fair Oaks, she extended her band, saying, slowly,--

"Mr. Mainwaring, this is indeed a surprise!" She watched him
closely, but there was not the quiver of an eyelash, only a slow,
inscrutable smile, as he replied,--

"Miss Carleton, I will add to that, and say that this is the
pleasantest surprise of my life."

She blushed at the implied meaning of his words, and he added,--

"I have not seen you on deck until to-day."

"Not last Friday evening?" she inquired, archly. His smile deepened.
"I did not know that it was you at that time until after I had
started below. Did you recognize me?"

"I thought I recognized your voice; and I have often wished to thank
you for your kindness, but this is m