you think me a beast. But I really _am_ thinking more of my
father than of myself. He is terribly proud. It would break his heart
to hear this story of me being found in a man's cabin. Oh! How could
I have done such an awful thing! You think I don't care, but I can
tell you I could simply die of shame."

April was softened once more.

"Don't cry, Diana, and don't worry any further. Of course, your name
shall never come out. That is quite settled. Come, now, and let me
help you into bed. You had far better stay here than face that tigress
Stanislaw in her den."

Nevertheless, when she had safely tucked the still weeping and
collapsed Diana into her berth, she thought it advisable to make an
excursion herself to the den of the tigress, ostensibly to fetch
Diana's night-things; in reality to let her know where Diana was
spending the night, and that the girl had one woman friend at least to
stand by her. Even as she expected, Mrs. Stanislaw was awake and lying
in wait, ready to spring. It must have been a disagreeable surprise to
see April instead of the victim. The former's manner was all suavity.

"I am sorry to disturb you, but I have come for Miss Poole's things.
She is not at all well, and I have persuaded her to spend the night
with me." Tranquilly she began to collect night-wear, slippers, hair
and tooth brushes. The tigress, being thoroughly taken back, could do
nothing for the moment but breathe heavily and glare. April, with the
wisdom of the serpent, made haste to escape before the feline creature
regained the use of claw and fang.

But there were worse things to face in the morning. Even though Diana
postponed the evil hour by pretending she was ill and having her
breakfast in bed, she could not stay in the cabin for ever. Once the
first days of seasickness are over there is a rule against people
stopping in their berths all day except under doctor's orders, and the
stewardesses are very rigid in enforcing this. Besides, the Captain
and first officer inspect cabins between ten and eleven A.M., and Diana
had no particular yearning to see them again just then.

April went down to breakfast as usual, outwardly composed, but with an
eye secretly alert to spy out the land. It did not take her long to
discover that all the women were in arms, with their stabbing knives
ready for action. Mrs. Stanislaw had evidently not been idle, and the
name of "Lady Diana" was already bracketed with that o