ps, but having a grand air of roominess and
comfort. The harbour carpets were down, the swinging lamps hung, and
everything in its place, even to the silver on the sideboard. Two large
stern cabins opened out of it, one on each side of the rudder casing.
These two cabins communicated through a small bathroom between them, and
one was fitted up as the captain's state-room. The other was vacant, and
furnished with arm-chairs and a round table, more like a room on shore,
except for the long curved settee following the shape of the ship's
stern. In a dim inclined mirror, Flora caught sight down to the waist of
a pale-faced girl in a white straw hat trimmed with roses, distant,
shadowy, as if immersed in water, and was surprised to recognize herself
in those surroundings. They seemed to her arbitrary, bizarre, strange.
Captain Anthony moved on, and she followed him. He showed her the other
cabins. He talked all the time loudly in a voice she seemed to have
known extremely well for a long time; and yet, she reflected, she had not
heard it often in her life. What he was saying she did not quite follow.
He was speaking of comparatively indifferent things in a rather moody
tone, but she felt it round her like a caress. And when he stopped she
could hear, alarming in the sudden silence, the precipitated beating of
her heart.

The ship-keeper dodged about the quarter-deck, out of hearing, and trying
to keep out of sight. At the same time, taking advantage of the open
doors with skill and prudence, he could see the captain and "that girl"
the captain had brought aboard. The captain was showing her round very
thoroughly. Through the whole length of the passage, far away aft in the
perspective of the saloon the ship-keeper had interesting glimpses of
them as they went in and out of the various cabins, crossing from side to
side, remaining invisible for a time in one or another of the
state-rooms, and then reappearing again in the distance. The girl,
always following the captain, had her sunshade in her hands. Mostly she
would hang her head, but now and then she would look up. They had a lot
to say to each other, and seemed to forget they weren't alone in the
ship. He saw the captain put his hand on her shoulder, and was preparing
himself with a certain zest for what might follow, when the "old man"
seemed to recollect himself, and came striding down all the length of the
saloon. At this move the ship-keeper promptly d