might be thankful for the right to live and love. Yet Browne was sad
at heart. Was he not about to part from the woman he loved for nearly
two whole months? Brave though he was in most things, it must be
confessed he feared that separation, as a confirmed coward fears a
blow. But still the train flew remorselessly on, bringing them every
moment nearer and nearer their destination.

When they reached it they drove direct to an hotel. Here they
breakfasted, and afterwards made their way to the steamer. Browne's
heart was sinking lower and lower, for never before had Katherine
seemed so sweet and so desirable. Once on board the vessel they called
a steward to their assistance, and the two ladies were shown to their
cabins. As they afterwards found out, they were the best that Browne
could secure, were situated amidships, and were really intended each to
accommodate four passengers. While they were examining them Browne
hunted out the chief steward, and the stewards who would be likely to
wait upon his friends. These he rewarded in such a way that, if the
men only acted up to their protestations, the remainder of the
passengers would have very good cause to complain. Having finished
this work of bribery and corruption, he went in search of the ladies,
only to be informed by the stewardess that they had left their cabins
and had gone on deck. He accordingly made his way up the
companion-ladder, and found them standing beside the smoking-room
entrance.

"I hope you found your cabins comfortable," he said. "I have just seen
the chief steward, and he has promised that everything possible shall
be done to make you enjoy your voyage."

"How good you are!" said Katherine in a low voice, and with a little
squeeze of his hand; while Madame protested that, if it were possible
for anything to reconcile her to the sea, it would be Monsieur Browne's
kindness. Then the warning whistle sounded for non-passengers to leave
the ship. Madame Bernstein took the hint, and, having bade him
good-bye, made her way along the deck towards the companion-ladder,
leaving the lovers together. Katherine's eyes had filled with tears
and she had grown visibly paler. Now that the time had come for
parting with the man she loved, she had discovered how much he was to
her.

"Katherine," said Browne, in a voice that was hoarse with suppressed
emotion, "do you know now how much I love you?"

"You love me more than I deserve," she said.