ack the
ring--which at that moment was burning a hole in his waistcoat
pocket--and had had nothing more to say to him, though, when he was not
conscious of the fact, her eyes often dwelt upon him with wistful
yearning. He might deserve punishment, but there was no doubt about it,
that he was the only man in the world for her! She loved everything
about him, from his curly blond head to the soles of his manly feet. He
was by far the best-looking boy on the ship, and the most simple-minded!
Besides, what was unforgettable, he was a prince of lovers! Was she
going to allow Mrs. Fox to take him?----

Kitty flushed in hot indignation at the thought, but it was right and
proper that he should suffer for his weakness and folly. Of course, she
would have to forgive him or be miserable for the rest of her life,
but--not yet.

The punishment might have continued for days, if Jack's own precipitancy
had not brought about almost a tragedy.

In the morning he gravitated to his friend again, and in a burst of
confidence, related the outcome of his having adopted the course that
had been advised. His friend, wise in the ways of women, listened with
his tongue in his cheek. Not being in love, himself, he could afford to
see the humourous side of Jack's trouble. This time he suggested a ruse.

"Excite her pity, my dear fellow. Do something to rouse her heart. It is
only suffering from shock and will come to the scratch when it is
stirred by pity. The best thing to do is to get seriously ill. Too much
grief--mental strain--has brought on a heart attack. Lie down to it and
kick up a devil of a fuss. I'll tip the doctor a wink and we'll do it in
style. What do you say to that? When she hears you are on the verge of
heart failure, all through her, she'll fall on your neck and wipe out
the past."

"Go to blazes!--I'm not going to do any play-acting and drag the whole
ship into the secret, only to lose any possible chance I might have had
if ever it leaked out."

"Then we'll have to think of something else."

"I think I'll just drop overboard, and end everything," said Jack
melodramatically. "That will show her how I have felt over her treatment
of me!"

"But you'll not be there to enjoy it. Happy thought. Can you swim?"

"Like a fish."

"Good! You can go overboard if she remains relentless, and the thought
that she has driven you to commit suicide, will bring her to you weeping
and repentant the minute you are restored to consci