ort of informing the kindly couple
that they were not wanted and had better mind their own business, and
refusing to decide upon a train, she could do nothing except thank Mrs.
Waldo.

"Perhaps," she thought, "they will forget, and things will settle
themselves between now and then. Or else I shall patch up some excuse."

When the invitation was given, the _Minnewanda_ was still four days
distant from New York; but the four days, though seeming long, were not
long enough to produce the prayed-for inspiration. Mrs. Waldo referred to
the journey whenever she saw Annesley, so there was no hope of her scheme
being forgotten; and the nearer loomed the new world, the more clearly
the girl was forced to see the thing to which a few hasty words had
committed her.

She and Knight had staterooms adjoining, with a door between. That was to
save appearances, and it was no one's business that the door was never
opened. In reality, they might as well have had the length of the ship
between their cabins.

Annesley kept to her own quarters as constantly as her jangled nerves
would allow; but the sea was provokingly smooth, and she proved to be a
good sailor. She felt as if she might become hysterical, and perhaps do
something foolish, if she tried the experiment of shutting herself up
from morning to night. She paced the deck, therefore, and was dimly
grateful to Knight because he seemed always to be in the smoking room
when she took her walks.

At meals, however, unless she ate in her stateroom, they could not avoid
each other; and again she felt cause for gratitude because Knight had
accepted the Waldos' suggestion that they should take a table for four.
In spite of the Waldos' unwelcome attentions, their society was
preferable--infinitely preferable--to a duet with Knight.

They talked on such occasions; and the sharpest-eared scandal mongers
could have guessed at nothing strange from their manner. But, save at
these luncheons and these dinners, they scarcely spoke to each other.

Knight took his cue from Annesley. After the night when he had knelt at
her feet and begged her forgiveness he had never forced himself upon his
wife. He seemed to have a dread of being thought an intruder, and even
withdrew his eyes guiltily if the girl caught him looking at her with the
old wistful gaze to whose mystery she had now a tragic clue.

Annesley hoped that, before they landed, Knight might make some
opportunity to discuss ways and mea