ce to
face with the pale polite stewardess in her cabin. "I had better have
a lemon, cut in two," she had said, feeling suddenly stifled with fear.
For hours she had lain despairing, watching the slowly swaying walls
of her cabin or sinking with closed eyes through invertebrate dipping
spaces. Before each releasing paroxysm she told herself "this is like
death; one day I shall die, it will be like this."

She supposed there would be breakfast soon on shore, a firm room and a
teapot and cups and saucers. Cold and exhaustion would come to an end.
She would be talking to her father.

2

He was standing near her with the Dutchman who had helped her off
the boat and looked after her luggage. The Dutchman was listening,
deferentially. Miriam saw the strong dark blue beam of his eyes.

"Very good, very good," she heard him say, "fine education in German
schools."

Both men were smoking cigars.

She wanted to draw herself upright and shake out her clothes.

"Select," she heard, "excellent staff of masters... daughters of
gentlemen."

"Pater is trying to make the Dutchman think I am being taken as a pupil
to a finishing school in Germany." She thought of her lonely
pilgrimage to the West End agency, of her humiliating interview, of her
heart-sinking acceptance of the post, the excitements and misgivings she
had had, of her sudden challenge of them all that evening after dinner,
and their dismay and remonstrance and reproaches--of her fear and
determination in insisting and carrying her point and making them begin
to be interested in her plan.

But she shared her father's satisfaction in impressing the Dutchman.
She knew that she was at one with him in that. She glanced at him. There
could be no doubt that he was playing the role of the English gentleman.
Poor dear. It was what he had always wanted to be. He had sacrificed
everything to the idea of being a "person of leisure and cultivation."
Well, after all, it was true in a way. He was--and he had, she knew,
always wanted her to be the same and she _was_ going to finish her
education abroad... in Germany.... They were nearing a little low quay
backed by a tremendous saffron-coloured hoarding announcing in black
letters "Sunlight Zeep."

3

"Did you see, Pater; did you _see?_"

They were walking rapidly along the quay.

"Did you see? Sunlight _Zeep!_"

She listened to his slightly scuffling stride at her side.

Glancing up she saw his face excite