ling; "now, what I wish you to do
is to make Uncle Fenelon put into Far Harbor. If he refuses, you can go
in in spite of him, since you and Mr. Farrar are the only ones who can
sail. You have the situation in your own hands."

There was certainly wisdom in this, also. But the die was cast now, and
pride alone was sufficient to hold me to the course I had rashly begun
upon. Pride! What an awkward thing it is, and more difficult for most of
us to swallow than a sponge.

"I thank you for this interest in my welfare, Miss Thorn," I began.

"No fine speeches, please, sir," she cut in, "but do as I advise."

"I fear I cannot."

"Why do you say that? The thing is simplicity itself."

"I should lose my self-respect as a practical joker. And besides," I
said maliciously, "I started out to have some fun with the Celebrity,
and I want to have it."

"Well," she replied, rather coolly, "of course you can do as you
choose."

We were passing within a hundred yards of the lighthouse, set
cheerlessly on the bald and sandy tip of the point. An icy silence
sat between us, and such a silence is invariably insinuating. This one
suggested a horrible thought. What if Miss Thorn had warned me in
order to save the Celebrity from humiliation? I thrust it aside, but it
returned again and grinned. Had she not practised insincerity before?
And any one with half an eye could see that she was in love with the
Celebrity; even the Fraction had remarked it. What more natural than,
with her cleverness, she had hit upon this means of terminating the
author's troubles by working upon my fears?

Human weakness often proves too much for those of us who have the very
best intentions. Up to now the refrigerator and Mr. Trevor had kept
the strictest and most jealous of vigils over Irene. But at length the
senator succumbed to the drowsiness which never failed to attack him
at this hour, and he forgot the disrepute of his surroundings in a
respectable sleep. Whereupon his daughter joined us on the forecastle.

"I knew that would happen to papa if I only waited long enough," she
said. "Oh, he thinks you're dreadful, Mr. Crocker. He says that nowadays
young men haven't any principle. I mustn't be seen talking to you."

"I have been trying to convince Mr. Crocker that his stand in the matter
is not only immoral, but suicidal," said Miss Thorn. "Perhaps," she
added meaningly, "he will listen to you."

"I don't understand," answered Miss Trevor.

"Mis