capable of infinite joy and
happiness.

"If you will share them with me," she said simply.

So, for the lack of chairs, we squatted on the narrow stateroom floor,
under the old man's kindly eye. The fruit minded us of sunlit vines, and
the careless rapture of the South. To me the situation was one of rare
charm. She ate daintily, and as we talked, I studied her face as if I
would etch it on my memory forever.

In particular I noticed the wistful contour of her cheek, her sensitive
mouth, and the fine modelling of her chin. She had clear, candid eyes
and sweeping lashes, too. Her ears were shell-like, and her hair soft,
wavy and warm. These things I marked minutely, thinking she was more
than beautiful--she was even pretty. I was in a state of extraordinary
elation, like a man that has found a jewel in the mire.

It must be remembered, lest I appear to be taking a too eager interest
in the girl, that up till now the world of woman had been _terra
incognita_ to me; that I had lived a singularly cloistered life, and
that first and last I was an idealist. This girl had distinction,
mystery and charm, and it is not to be wondered at that I found a joy in
her presence. I proved myself a perfect artesian well of conversation,
talking freely of the ship, of our fellow-passengers and of the chances
of the venture. I found her wonderfully quick in the uptake. Her mind
seemed nimbly to outrun mine, and she divined my words ere I had them
uttered. Yet she never spoke of herself, and when I left them together I
was full of uneasy questioning.

Next day the old man was still abed, and again the girl came to visit
him. This time I noticed that much of her timid manner was gone, and in
its stead was a shy friendliness. Once more the box of grapes proved a
mediator between us, and once more I found in her a reticent but
sympathetic audience--so much so that I was frank in telling her of
myself, my home and my kinsfolk. I thought that maybe my talk would
weary her, but she listened with a bright-eyed regard, nodding her head
eagerly at times. Yet she spoke no word of her own affairs, so that when
again I left them together I was as much in the dark as ever.

It was on the third day I found the old man up and dressed, and Berna
with him. She looked brighter and happier than I had yet seen her, and
she greeted me with a smiling face. Then, after a little, she said:

"My grandfather plays the violin. Would you mind if he played over