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few moments before returning to the cabin。 On entering she was a little
startled at observing a figure seated at her father's desk； but was relieved at
finding it was Mr。 Renshaw。
He rose and put aside the book he had idly picked up。 〃I am afraid I
am an intentional intruder this time； Miss Nott。 But I found no one here；
and I was tempted to look into this ship…shape little snuggery。 You see the
temptation got the better of me。〃
His voice and smile were so frank and pleasant； so free from his
previous restraint； yet still respectful； so youthful yet manly； that Rosey
was affected by them even in her preoccupation。 Her eyes brightened and
then dropped before his admiring glance。 Had she known that the
excitement of the last few hours had brought a wonderful charm into her
pretty face； had aroused the slumbering life of her half…awakened beauty；
she would have been more confused。 As it was； she was only glad that the
young man should turn out to be 〃nice。〃 Perhaps he might tell her
something about ships； perhaps if she had only known him longer she
might； with de Ferrieres's permission； have shared her confidence with
him； and enlisted his sympathy and assistance。 She contented herself with
showing this anticipatory gratitude in her face as she begged him； with the
timidity of a maiden hostess； to resume his seat。
But Mr。 Renshaw seemed to talk only to make her talk； and I am
forced to admit that Rosey found this almost as pleasant。 It was not long
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before he was in possession of her simple history from the day of her baby
emigration to California to the transfer of her childish life to the old ship；
and even of much of the romantic fancies she had woven into her
existence there。 Whatever ulterior purpose he had in view； he listened as
attentively as if her artless chronicle was filled with practical information。
Once； when she had paused for breath； he said gravely； 〃I must ask you to
show me over this wonderful ship some day that I may see it with your
eyes。〃
〃But I think you know it already better than I do；〃 said Rosey with a
smile。
Mr。 Renshaw's brow clouded slightly。 〃Ah；〃 he said； with a touch of
his former restraint； 〃and why？〃
〃Well；〃 said Rosey timidly； 〃I thought you went round and touched
things in a familiar way as if you had handled them before。〃
The young man raised his eyes to Rosey's and kept them there long
enough to bring back his gentler expression。 〃Then； because I found you
trying on a very queer bonnet the first day I saw you；〃 he said；
mischievously； 〃I ought to believe you were in the habit of wearing one。〃
In the first flush of mutual admiration young people are apt to find a
laugh quite as significant as a sigh for an expression of sympathetic
communion； and this master…stroke of wit convulsed them both。 In the
midst of it Mr。 Nott entered the cabin。 But the complacency with which he
viewed the evident perfect understanding of the pair was destined to suffer
some abatement。 Rosey； suddenly conscious that she was in some way
participating in ridicule of her father through his unhappy gift； became
embarrassed。 Mr。 Renshaw's restraint returned with the presence of the old
man。 In vain； at first； Abner Nott strove with profound levity to indicate
his arch comprehension of the situation； and in vain； later； becoming
alarmed； he endeavored； with cheerful gravity； to indicate his utter
obliviousness of any but a business significance in their tete…a…tete。
〃I oughtn't to hev intruded； Rosey；〃 he said； 〃when you and the
gentleman were talkin' of contracts； mebbee； but don't mind me。 I'm on the
fly； anyhow； Rosey dear； hevin' to see a man round the corner。〃
But even the attitude of withdrawing did not prevent the exit of
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Renshaw to his apartment and of Rosey to the galley。 Left alone in the
cabin； Abner Nott felt in the knots and tangles of his beard for a reason。
Glancing down at his prodigious boots which； covered with mud and
gravel； strongly emphasized his agricultural origin； and gave him a general
appearance of standing on his own broad acres； he was struck with an idea。
〃It's them boots；〃 he whispered to himself； softly； 〃they somehow don't
seem 'xactly to trump or follow suit in this yer cabin； they don't hitch into
anythin'； but jist slosh round loose； and； so to speak； play it alone。 And
them young critters nat'rally feels it and gets out o' the way。〃 Acting upon
this instinct with his usual precipitate caution； he at once proceeded to the
nearest second…hand shop； and； purchasing a pair of enormous carpet
slippers； originally the property of a gouty sea…captain； reappeared with a
strong suggestion of newly upholstering the cabin。 The improvement；
however； was fraught with a portentous circumstance。 Mr。 Nott's footsteps；
which usually announced his approach all over the ship； became stealthy
and inaudible。
Meantime Miss Rosey had taken advantage of the absence of her
father to visit her patient。 To avoid attracting attention she did not take a
light； but groped her way to the lower deck and rapped softly at the door。
It was instantly opened by de Ferrieres。 He had apparently appreciated the
few changes she had already made in the room； and had himself cleared
away the pallet from which he had risen to make two low seats against the
wall。 Two bits of candle placed on the floor illuminated the beams above；
the dressing…gown was artistically draped over the solitary chair； and a pile
of cushions formed another seat。 With elaborate courtesy he handed Miss
Rosey to the chair。 He looked pale and weak； though the gravity of the
attack had evidently passed。 Yet he persisted in remaining standing。 〃If I
sit；〃 he explained with a gesture； 〃I shall again disgrace myself by sleeping
in Mademoiselle's presence。 Yes！ I shall sleepI shall dreamand wake to
find her gone？〃
More embarrassed by his recovery than when he was lying helplessly
before her； she said hesitatingly that she was glad he was better； and that
she hoped he liked the broth。
〃It was manna from heaven； Mademoiselle。 See； I have taken it all
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every precious drop。 What else could I have done for Mademoiselle's
kindness？〃
He showed her the empty bowl。 A swift conviction came upon her that
the man had been suffering from want of food。 The thought restored her
self…possession even while it brought the tears to her eyes。 〃I wish you
would let me speak to fatheror some one；〃 she said impulsively； and
stopped。
A quick and half insane gleam of terror and suspicion lit up his deep
eyes。 〃For what； Mademoiselle！ For an accidentthat is nothing
absolutely nothing； for I am strong and well nowsee！〃 he said
tremblingly。 〃Or for a whimfor a folly you may say； that they will
misunderstand。 No； Mademoiselle is good； is wise。 She will say to herself；
'I understand； my friend Monsieur de Ferrieres for the moment has a secret。
He would seem poor； he would take the role of artisan； he would shut
himself up in these wallsperhaps I may guess why； but it is his secret。 I
think of it no more。'〃 He caught her hand in his with a gesture that he
would have made one of gallantry； but that in its tremulous intensity
became a piteous supplication。
〃I have said nothing； and will say nothing； if you wish it；〃 said Rosey
hastily； 〃but others may find out how you live here。 This is not fit work for
you。 You seem to be aa gentleman。 You ought to be a lawyer； or a doctor；
or in a bank；〃 she continued timidly； with a vague enumeration of the
prevailing degrees of local gentility。
He dropped her hand。