o
be sure.'

'The ships? Why, I thought you despised trade, mademoiselle?'

'And so I do. That is, not trade, but tradesmen. Of course, I mean
shopkeepers.'

'It's they who send the ships to and fro, and make the picture that
pleases you, nevertheless.'

'Do they?' said she, indifferently, and then with a sort of fervour,
'Why do you always grow so cold to me whenever we get on this subject?'

'I cold?' Evan responded. The incessant fears of his diplomatic sister
had succeeded in making him painfully jealous of this subject. He turned
it off. 'Why, our feelings are just the same. Do you know what I was
thinking when you came up? I was thinking that I hoped I might never
disgrace the name of an Englishman.'

'Now, that's noble!' cried the girl. 'And I'm sure you never will. Of an
English gentleman, Evan. I like that better.'

'Would your rather be called a true English lady than a true English
woman, Rose?'

'Don't think I would, my dear,' she answered, pertly; 'but "gentleman"
always means more than "man" to me.'

'And what's a gentleman, mademoiselle?'

'Can't tell you, Don Doloroso. Something you are, sir,' she added,
surveying him.

Evan sucked the bitter and the sweet of her explanation. His sister in
her anxiety to put him on his guard, had not beguiled him to forget his
real state.

His sister, the diplomatist and his lady, the refugee Count, with
ladies' maids, servants, and luggage, were now on the main-deck, and
Master Alec, who was as good as a newspaper correspondent for private
conversations, put an end to the colloquy of the young people. They
were all assembled in a circle when the vessel came to her moorings.
The diplomatist glutted with news, and thirsting for confirmations; the
Count dumb, courteous, and quick-eyed; the honourable lady complacent
in the consciousness of boxes well packed; the Countess breathing
mellifluous long-drawn adieux that should provoke invitations. Evan and
Rose regarded each other.

The boat to convey them on shore was being lowered, and they were
preparing to move forward. Just then the vessel was boarded by a
stranger.

'Is that one of the creatures of your Customs? I did imagine we were
safe from them,' exclaimed the Countess.

The diplomatist laughingly requested her to save herself anxiety on
that score, while under his wing. But she had drawn attention to the
intruder, who was seen addressing one of the midshipmen. He was a man in
a long brown coat a