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sense of good omens and propitious airs。 I forget what we spoke of
first； but it was because I felt these things pleasantly； and not to
torment my companion nor to test her； that I couldn't help exclaiming
cheerfully after a moment； as I have mentioned having done the first
day： 〃Well； we're getting on； we're getting on！〃
〃Oh yes； I count every hour。〃
〃The last days always go quicker；〃 I said； 〃and the last hours！〃
〃Well； the last hours？〃 she asked； for I had instinctively checked
myself。
〃Oh one's so glad then that it's almost the same as if one had
arrived。 Yet we ought to be grateful when the elements have been so
kind to us；〃 I added。 〃I hope you'll have enjoyed the voyage。〃
She hesitated ever so little。 〃Yes； much more than I expected。〃
〃Did you think it would be very bad？〃
〃Horrible； horrible！〃
The tone of these words was strange； but I hadn't much time to
reflect upon it； for turning round at that moment I saw Jasper
Nettlepoint come toward us。 He was still distant by the expanse of
the white deck； and I couldn't help taking him in from head to foot
as he drew nearer。 I don't know what rendered me on this occasion
particularly sensitive to the impression； but it struck me that I saw
him as I had never seen him before； saw him； thanks to the intense
sea…light； inside and out； in his personal； his moral totality。 It
was a quick； a vivid revelation； if it only lasted a moment it had a
simplifying certifying effect。 He was intrinsically a pleasing
apparition； with his handsome young face and that marked absence of
any drop in his personal arrangements which； more than any one I've
ever seen； he managed to exhibit on shipboard。 He had none of the
appearance of wearing out old clothes that usually prevails there；
but dressed quite straight； as I heard some one say。 This gave him
an assured； almost a triumphant air； as of a young man who would come
best out of any awkwardness。 I expected to feel my companion's hand
loosen itself on my arm； as an indication that now she must go to
him； and I was almost surprised she didn't drop me。 We stopped as we
met and Jasper bade us a friendly good…morning。 Of course the remark
that we had another lovely day was already indicated； and it led him
to exclaim； in the manner of one to whom criticism came easily； 〃Yes；
but with this sort of thing consider what one of the others would
do！〃
〃One of the other ships？〃
〃We should be there now； or at any rate tomorrow。〃
〃Well then I'm glad it isn't one of the others〃and I smiled at the
young lady on my arm。 My words offered her a chance to say something
appreciative； and gave him one even more； but neither Jasper nor
Grace Mavis took advantage of the occasion。 What they did do； I
noticed； was to look at each other rather fixedly an instant； after
which she turned her eyes silently to the sea。 She made no movement
and uttered no sound； contriving to give me the sense that she had
all at once become perfectly passive； that she somehow declined
responsibility。 We remained standing there with Jasper in front of
us； and if the contact of her arm didn't suggest I should give her
up； neither did it intimate that we had better pass on。 I had no
idea of giving her up； albeit one of the things I seemed to read just
then into Jasper's countenance was a fine implication that she was
his property。 His eyes met mine for a moment； and it was exactly as
if he had said to me 〃I know what you think； but I don't care a rap。〃
What I really thought was that he was selfish beyond the limits：
that was the substance of my little revelation。 Youth is almost
always selfish； just as it is almost always conceited； and； after
all； when it's combined with health and good parts； good looks and
good spirits； it has a right to be； and I easily forgive it if it be
really youth。 Still it's a question of degree； and what stuck out of
Jasper Nettlepointif； of course； one had the intelligence for it
was that his egotism had a hardness； his love of his own way an
avidity。 These elements were jaunty and prosperous； they were
accustomed to prevail。 He was fond； very fond； of women； they were
necessary to himthat was in his type； but he wasn't in the least in
love with Grace Mavis。 Among the reflexions I quickly made this was
the one that was most to the point。 There was a degree of
awkwardness； after a minute； in the way we were planted there； though
the apprehension of it was doubtless not in the least with himself。
To dissimulate my own share in it； at any rate； I asked him how his
mother might be。
His answer was unexpected。 〃You had better go down and see。〃
〃Not till Miss Mavis is tired of me。〃
She said nothing to this and I made her walk again。 For some minutes
she failed to speak； then； rather abruptly； she began： 〃I've seen
you talking to that lady who sits at our tablethe one who has so
many children。〃
〃Mrs。 Peck？ Oh yes； one has inevitably talked with Mrs。 Peck。〃
〃Do you know her very well？〃
〃Only as one knows people at sea。 An acquaintance makes itself。 It
doesn't mean very much。〃
〃She doesn't speak to meshe might if she wanted。〃
〃That's just what she says of youthat you might speak to her。〃
〃Oh if she's waiting for that！〃 said my companion with a laugh。 Then
she added： 〃She lives in our street； nearly opposite。〃
〃Precisely。 That's the reason why she thinks you coy or haughty。
She has seen you so often and seems to know so much about you。〃
〃What does she know about me？〃
〃Ah you must ask herI can't tell you！〃
〃I don't care what she knows；〃 said my young lady。 After a moment
she went on： 〃She must have seen I ain't very sociable。〃 And then；
〃What are you laughing at？〃 she asked。
〃Well〃my amusement was difficult to explain〃you're not very
sociable； and yet somehow you are。 Mrs。 Peck is； at any rate； and
thought that ought to make it easy for you to enter into conversation
with her。〃
〃Oh I don't care for her conversationI know what it amounts to。〃 I
made no replyI scarcely knew what reply to makeand the girl went
on： 〃I know what she thinks and I know what she says。〃 Still I was
silent； but the next moment I saw my discretion had been wasted； for
Miss Mavis put to me straight： 〃Does she make out that she knows Mr。
Porterfield？〃
〃No； she only claims she knows a lady who knows him。〃
〃Yes； that's itMrs。 Jeremie。 Mrs。 Jeremie's an idiot！〃 I wasn't
in a position to controvert this； and presently my young lady said
she would sit down。 I left her in her chairI saw that she
preferred itand wandered to a distance。 A few minutes later I met
Jasper again； and he stopped of his own accord to say： 〃We shall be
in about six in the evening of our eleventh daythey promise it。〃
〃If nothing happens； of course。〃
〃Well； what's going to happen？〃
〃That's just what I'm wondering！〃 And I turned away and went below
with the foolish but innocent satisfaction of thinking I had
mystified him。
CHAPTER IV
〃I don't know what to do； and you must help me；〃 Mrs。 Nettlepoint
said to me； that evening； as soon as I looked in。
〃I'll do what I canbut what's the matter？〃
〃She has been crying here and going onshe has quite upset me。〃
〃Crying？ She doesn't look like that。〃
〃Exactly； and that's what startled me。 She came in to see me this
afternoon； as she has done before； and we talked of the weather and
the run of the ship and the manners of the stewardess and other such
trifles； and then suddenly； in the midst of it； as she sat there； on
no visible pretext； she burst into tears。 I asked her what ailed her
and tried to comfort her； but she didn't explain； she said it was
nothing； the effect of the sea； of the monotony； of the excitement；
of leaving home。 I asked her if it had anything to do with her
prospects； with her marriage； whether