usual crudeness. I know it sounds insolent
of me, but, after all, it is only being bold with the woman for
whom--half-disgraced, insignificant, but unquenchable fellow as I
am--I'd do as much as, and, maybe, dare more for than any one of the men
who would marry her if they could."

"I like ambitious men," she said relenting, and meditatively pushing
the grass with her tennis-racket; "but ambition isn't everything, is
it? There must be some kind of fulfilment to turn it into capital, as it
were. Don't let me hurt your feelings, but you haven't done a great deal
yet, have you?"

"No, I haven't. There must be occasion. The chance to do something big
may start up any time, however. You never can tell when things will come
your way. You've got to be ready, that's all."

"You are very confident."

"You'll call me a prig directly, perhaps, but I can't help that. I've
said things to you that I've never said to any one in the world, and I
don't regret saying them."

She looked at him earnestly. She had never been made love to in this
fashion. There was no sentimentalism in it, only straightforward
feeling, forceful, yet gentle. She knew he was aware that the Admiral
of his squadron had paid, and was paying, court to her; that a titled
aide-de-camp at Government House was conspicuously attentive; that one
of the richest squatters in the country was ready to make astonishing
settlements at any moment; and that there was not a young man of
note acquainted with her who did not offer her gallant service-in the
ball-room. She smiled as she thought of it. He was certainly not large,
but no finer head was ever set on a man's shoulders, powerful,
strongly outlined, nobly balanced. The eyes were everywhere; searching,
indomitable, kind. It was a head for a sculptor. Ambition became it
well. She had studied that head from every stand-point, and had had the
keenest delight in talking to the man. But, as he said, that was two
years before, and he had had bad luck since then.

She suddenly put this question to him: "Tell me all the truth about that
accident to the Ruby. You have been hiding something. The Admiral was
right, I know. Some evidence was not forthcoming that would have thrown
a different light on the affair."

"I can tell you nothing," he promptly replied.

"I shall find out one day," she said.

"I hope not; though I'm grateful that you wish to do so."

He rose hurriedly to his feet; he was looking at the harbour below