mmediate predecessors just taking their seats. As I crossed the
threshold of the brilliantly-lighted apartment, leaning upon the arm of
the steward, the entire company rose to their feet; every eye was turned
upon me; and suddenly General O'Brien shouted, in great excitement:

"Three cheers for our gallant friend Conyers! Hip, hip, hip, hurrah!"

The three cheers thus unexpectedly called for were enthusiastically
given--even the ladies joining in--to my great confusion, and as I
passed aft between the two tables everybody within reach must needs
shake hands with me, and say something complimentary, until I felt so
uncomfortable that I began to wish I had remained below. I noticed that
Miss Onslow was on her feet, like the rest; but she appeared to have
risen rather to avoid any appearance of singularity than with the
intention of paying me a compliment; while the rest were almost
boisterously enthusiastic she remained absolutely calm and devoid of the
slightest sign of emotion, except that her cheeks and lips were
colourless; a slight curl in her beautiful upper lip seemed to indicate
a feeling of contempt for such an outburst of enthusiasm, and she
steadfastly kept her gaze turned away from me, except for one brief
fraction of a second, as I drew near to take my place beside her. Then,
for the space of a lightning-flash, our glances met; and, if anything so
inconceivable as a display of emotion on her part could be credited as
within the range of possibility, I would almost have sworn that I caught
in her eyes the flash of tears. But, the little ovation over, we all
sat down; and as she at once began talking to the skipper about the gun
mounted as a trophy in front of Government House, Calcutta, I had not an
opportunity to verify my suspicion.

As we seated ourselves I gave vent to a sigh of relief, believing that--
my fellow-travellers having expressed their approval of my behaviour of
the morning--the affair was now at an end. But scarcely were we settled
in our places when the French skipper's wife--a very charming little
woman, who, with her husband, had been received into the cuddy by Dacre
as his guests, and who had apparently failed to recognise me upon my
entrance--learning from her neighbour what all the hubbub was about,
must needs add to my confusion by rushing to me and throwing herself
upon her knees, as she poured forth her expressions of gratitude with a
mingled fervour and grace that I found part