the same. In the writing-room everyone bent suddenly over their
blotting-pads, and the balmy morning air took on an arctic chill.
Music and conversation faded away when she sauntered into the music
saloon. On deck even the sailors looked at her curiously. The story
of her indiscretion had penetrated to every corner of the vessel. The
miserable girl fetched a book from the library and tried to hide
herself behind it, seated in her deck-chair. She soon had that side of
the ship to herself.

Later, it was discovered that a lady with whom she was engaged to play
off a final in deck quoits had "scratched." The same thing happened
with regard to the bridge-drive. The girl who was cast as her opponent
in the opening round publicly withdrew her name from the competition.
There it was, up on the games notice-board--a girl's name with a black
pencil mark drawn through it. All who ran might read, and a good many
did run to read. Clearly the April Fool had become the object of the
most unanimous taboo ever set in motion on a ship. Her name was mud.
Even the men did not rally to her aid, though she had been popular
enough with them before. There are few men who will not crumple up
before a phalanx of women with daggers in their hands and feathers in
their hair; even as the big-game hunter thinks it no shame to flee
before a horde of singing ants! The only two who behaved with natural
decency were Bellew and Sarle. The latter appeared utterly unconscious
of anything unusual when he came and sat down by the two girls. There
might have been a little more deference in his manner to Diana; that
was all. As for Bellew, he had not been trained in the diplomatic
service for nothing. He possessed to a marked degree the consummate
sang-froid that is a natural attribute of aides-de-camp. Nothing could
have been more cool than his manner when he joined the group and
suggested a game of quoits. The whole world of the ship had its ears
cocked to listen to these two, and was watching them acutely--with eyes
that gazed at the horizon. If only Diana could have comported herself
in a rational manner the situation might at least have been decently
salvaged, if not carried with triumph. But she had lost her nerve.
Intrepid throughout the voyage in committing every possible folly, now,
when a little real courage was needed, she crumpled. The fierce white
light of public disapproval withered her. It was pitiful to see the
way she we