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〃I thought there was some rule！〃 submitted Mrs。 Gotch。
〃Well； there isthat you've got to behave yourself；〃 Mrs。 Peck
explained。 〃So the Captain told mehe said they have some rule。 He
said they have to have； when people are too undignified。〃
〃Is that the term he used？〃 I inquired。
〃Well； he may have said when they attract too much attention。〃
I ventured to discriminate。 〃It's we who attract the attentionby
talking about what doesn't concern us and about what we really don't
know。〃
〃She said the Captain said he'd tell on her as soon as ever we
arrive；〃 Mrs。 Gotch none the less serenely pursued。
〃SHE said？〃 I repeated； bewildered。
〃Well； he did say so； that he'd think it his duty to inform Mr。
Porterfield when he comes on to meet herif they keep it up in the
same way；〃 said Mrs。 Peck。
〃Oh they'll keep it up； don't you fear！〃 one of the gentlemen
exclaimed。
〃Dear madam； the Captain's having his joke on you；〃 was； however； my
own congruous reply。
〃No； he ain'the's right down scandalised。 He says he regards us
all as a real family and wants the family not to be downright
coarse。〃 I felt Mrs。 Peck irritated by my controversial tone： she
challenged me with considerable spirit。 〃How can you say I don't
know it when all the street knows it and has known it for yearsfor
years and years？〃 She spoke as if the girl had been engaged at least
for twenty。 〃What's she going out for if not to marry him？〃
〃Perhaps she's going to see how he looks；〃 suggested one of the
gentlemen。
〃He'd look queerif he knew。〃
〃Well； I guess he'll know；〃 said Mrs。 Gotch。
〃She'd tell him herselfshe wouldn't be afraid；〃 the gentleman went
on。
〃Well she might as well kill him。 He'll jump overboard；〃 Mrs。 Peck
could foretell。
〃Jump overboard？〃 cried Mrs。 Gotch as if she hoped then that Mr。
Porterfield would be told。
〃He has just been waiting for thisfor long； long years；〃 said Mrs。
Peck。
〃Do you happen to know him？〃 I asked。
She replied at her convenience。 〃No； but I know a lady who does。
Are you going up？〃
I had risen from my placeI had not ordered supper。 〃I'm going to
take a turn before going to bed。〃
〃Well then you'll see！〃
Outside the saloon I hesitated； for Mrs。 Peck's admonition made me
feel for a moment that if I went up I should have entered in a manner
into her little conspiracy。 But the night was so warm and splendid
that I had been intending to smoke a cigar in the air before going
below； and I didn't see why I should deprive myself of this pleasure
in order to seem not to mind Mrs。 Peck。 I mounted accordingly and
saw a few figures sitting or moving about in the darkness。 The ocean
looked black and small； as it is apt to do at night； and the long
mass of the ship； with its vague dim wings； seemed to take up a great
part of it。 There were more stars than one saw on land and the
heavens struck one more than ever as larger than the earth。 Grace
Mavis and her companion were not； so far as I perceived at first；
among the few passengers who lingered late； and I was glad； because I
hated to hear her talked about in the manner of the gossips I had
left at supper。 I wished there had been some way to prevent it； but
I could think of none but to recommend her privately to reconsider
her rule of discretion。 That would be a very delicate business； and
perhaps it would be better to begin with Jasper； though that would be
delicate too。 At any rate one might let him know； in a friendly
spirit； to how much remark he exposed the young ladyleaving this
revelation to work its way upon him。 Unfortunately I couldn't
altogether believe that the pair were unconscious of the observation
and the opinion of the passengers。 They weren't boy and girl； they
had a certain social perspective in their eye。 I was meanwhile at
any rate in no possession of the details of that behaviour which had
made themaccording to the version of my good friends in the saloon…
…a scandal to the ship； for though I had taken due note of them； as
will already have been gathered； I had taken really no such
ferocious； or at least such competent； note as Mrs。 Peck。
Nevertheless the probability was that they knew what was thought of
themwhat naturally would beand simply didn't care。 That made our
heroine out rather perverse and even rather shameless； and yet
somehow if these were her leanings I didn't dislike her for them。 I
don't know what strange secret excuses I found for her。 I presently
indeed encountered； on the spot； a need for any I might have at call；
since； just as I was on the point of going below again； after several
restless turns andwithin the limit where smoking was allowedas
many puffs at a cigar as I cared for； I became aware of a couple of
figures settled together behind one of the lifeboats that rested on
the deck。 They were so placed as to be visible only to a person
going close to the rail and peering a little sidewise。 I don't think
I peered； but as I stood a moment beside the rail my eye was
attracted by a dusky object that protruded beyond the boat and that I
saw at a second glance to be the tail of a lady's dress。 I bent
forward an instant； but even then I saw very little more； that
scarcely mattered however； as I easily concluded that the persons
tucked away in so snug a corner were Jasper Nettlepoint and Mr。
Porterfield's intended。 Tucked away was the odious right expression；
and I deplored the fact so betrayed for the pitiful bad taste in it。
I immediately turned away； and the next moment found myself face to
face with our vessel's skipper。 I had already had some conversation
with himhe had been so good as to invite me； as he had invited Mrs。
Nettlepoint and her son and the young lady travelling with them； and
also Mrs。 Peck； to sit at his tableand had observed with pleasure
that his seamanship had the grace； not universal on the Atlantic
liners； of a fine…weather manner。
〃They don't waste much timeyour friends in there；〃 he said； nodding
in the direction in which he had seen me looking。
〃Ah well； they haven't much to lose。〃
〃That's what I mean。 I'm told SHE hasn't。〃
I wanted to say something exculpatory； but scarcely knew what note to
strike。 I could only look vaguely about me at the starry darkness
and the sea that seemed to sleep。 〃Well； with these splendid nights
and this perfect air people are beguiled into late hours。〃
〃Yes； we want a bit of a blow；〃 the Captain said。
I demurred。 〃How much of one？〃
〃Enough to clear the decks！〃
He was after all rather dry and he went about his business。 He had
made me uneasy； and instead of going below I took a few turns more。
The other walkers dropped off pair by pairthey were all mentill
at last I was alone。 Then after a little I quitted the field。
Jasper and his companion were still behind their lifeboat。
Personally I greatly preferred our actual conditions； but as I went
down I found myself vaguely wishing； in the interest of I scarcely
knew what； unless it had been a mere superstitious delicacy； that we
might have half a gale。
Miss Mavis turned out； in sea…phrase； early； for the next morning I
saw her come up only a short time after I had finished my breakfast；
a ceremony over which I contrived not to dawdle。 She was alone and
Jasper Nettlepoint； by a rare accident； was not on deck to help her。
I went to meet hershe was encumbered as usual with her shawl； her
sun…umbrella and a bookand laid my hands on her chair； placing it
near the stern of the ship； where she liked best to be。 But I
proposed to her to walk a little before she sat down； and she took my
arm after I had put her accessories into the chair。 The deck was
clear at that hour and the morning light gay； one had an extravagant
sense of good omens and propitious airs。 I forget what we spoke of
first； but it was because I felt these things p