more than once.
But I am no correspondent. I am unable to maintain the, to-me,
unnatural mental contortions of translating a mood into a literary form.
I can tell you--yes; but I regard with envy those fortunate souls who
'pour themselves out' as we say, upon paper. Somehow or other, I am not
to be poured out. And so our correspondence did not flourish with that
tropical luxuriance which is so much appreciated by the world when we
are dead and unable to protect ourselves. But I did not forget. I shall
never forget that romantic encounter, the sweet, resonant voice coming
across the rose-shaded supper-table, the exquisite face with the radiant
and questing, derisive smile.

"And then, with the matter-of-fact abruptness of sea-faring, I was
informed that we were to proceed to the Bristol Channel and load steam
coal for Saloniki. Jack was concerned at this, for it meant a longer
voyage, and Mrs. Evans was in an interesting condition, as he put it.
Jack had settled down. He was worried, of course, but his period of
eccentric uxoriousness was over. He sighed occasionally for a 'shore
job,' but he acknowledged the sense of my argument that he would be a
fool to quit. He was already looking forward to the distant day when he
could retire. Had saved a couple of hundred pounds and put it into oil
shares, which were going up. His conversation contained less of Madeline
and more of possible profits. In fact, Madeline disappeared, and was
supplanted by a sober institution known as 'the Missus.' He had
forgotten 'the gel,' I imagined, but it transpired that even upon him
she had left her mark. On the voyage out, during a conversation about
our probable port of loading, he suddenly expressed a curiosity as to
what became o' that gel? What did I suppose? For I had not scrupled to
keep my relations with Captain Macedoine's daughter to myself. I said I
couldn't imagine. Probably married by this time. Ah! said Jack. Best
thing, too. What was her name now? He'd forgotten. Ah! Fancy givin' a
child a name like that! And another thing. We'd be able to have a look
at the Anglo-Hellenic Development Company. See what we'd missed, eh?
Jack gave a fat chuckle. Oil for him! Something that was quoted on the
Stock Exchange. Six per cent. and safe as houses. Safer! Tenants were so
destructive nowadays, his father-in-law told him. For the workhouse
master was an owner of small houses in a quiet way. A warm man. Had five
hundred in these here oil share