ncle and he
discussed the matter on the Sunday before we left Liverpool. His
theory is rather borne out by the present state of the ship's larder.
I assure you that few tramp steamers spread a table like the
_Andromeda's_ mess during this voyage."

Iris laughed, with a spontaneous merriment that was rather astonishing
in her own ears.

"Being the owner's niece, I am well catered for?" she cried.

"Something of the sort. It is only natural."

"But I think I have read in the newspapers that when some unhappy
creature is condemned to death by the law, he is supplied with luxuries
that would certainly be denied to any ordinary criminal?"

"Such doubtful clemency can hardly apply to you, Miss Yorke."

"It might apply to the ship, or to that human part of her that thinks,
and remembers, and is capable of--of giving evidence."

She paused, fearing lest, perhaps, she might have spoken too plainly.
Coke's counter-stroke in alluding to her dread of the proposed marriage
was hidden from her ken; Hozier, of course, was thinking of nothing
else. For the moment, then, they were at cross purposes.

"Things are not so bad as that," he said gently. "I hope I am not
trespassing on forbidden ground, but it is only fair to tell you that
the skipper was quite explicit, up to a point. He said you were being
forced into some matrimonial arrangement that was distasteful----"

"And to escape from an undesirable suitor I ran away?"

"Well, the story sounded all right."

"Hid myself on my uncle's ship when I wished to avoid marrying the man
of his choice?"

Hozier was not neglecting his work, but he did then take his eyes off
the starlit sea for a few amazed seconds. There was no mistaking the
scornful ring in the girl's words. He could see the deep color that
flooded her cheeks; the glance that met his sparkled with an intensity
of feeling that thrilled while it perplexed.

"Please pardon me if the question hurts, but if that is not your
motive, and there never was any real notion of your coming with us on
the this trip, why are you here?" he said.

"Because I am a foolish girl, I suppose; because I thought that my
presence might interpose a serious obstacle between a criminal and the
crime he had planned to commit. If one wants to avoid hateful people a
change of climate is a most effectual means, and I had not the money
for ordinary travel. Believe me, Mr. Hozier, I am not on board the
Andromeda without good reason.