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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 she finds as this draws near
that her heart isn't in it。 I told her she mustn't be nervous； that
I could enter into thatin short I said what I could。 All she
replied was that she IS nervous； very nervous； but that it was
already over； and then she jumped up and kissed me and went away。
Does she look as if she has been crying？〃 Mrs。 Nettlepoint wound up。
〃How can I tell； when she never quits that horrid veil？ It's as if
she were ashamed to show her face。〃
〃She's keeping it for Liverpool。 But I don't like such incidents；〃
said Mrs。 Nettlepoint。 〃I think I ought to go above。〃
〃And is that where you want me to help you？〃
〃Oh with your arm and that sort of thing； yes。 But I may have to
look to you for something more。 I feel as if something were going to
happen。〃
〃That's exactly what I said to Jasper this morning。〃
〃And what did he say？〃
〃He only looked innocentas if he thought I meant a fog or a storm。〃
〃Heaven forbidit isn't that！ I shall never be good…natured again；〃
Mrs。 Nettlepoint went on； 〃never have a girl put on me that way。 You
always pay for itthere are always tiresome complications。 What I'm
afraid of is after we get there。 She'll throw up her engagement；
there will be dreadful scenes； I shall be mixed up with them and have
to look after her and keep her with me。 I shall have to stay there
with her till she can be sent back； or even take her up to London。
Do you see all that？〃
I listened respectfully； after which I observed： 〃You're afraid of
your son。〃
She also had a pause。 〃It depends on how you mean it。〃
〃There are things you might say to himand with your manner； because
you have one； you know； when you choose。〃
〃Very likely； but what's my manner to his？ Besides； I HAVE said
everything to him。 That is I've said the great thingthat he's
making her immensely talked about。〃
〃And of course in answer to that he has asked you how you know； and
you've told him you have it from me。〃
〃I've had to tell him； and he says it's none of your business。〃
〃I wish he'd say that；〃 I remarked； 〃to my face。〃
〃He'll do so perfectly if you give him a chance。 That's where you
can help me。 Quarrel with himhe's rather good at a quarrel； and
that will divert him and draw him off。〃
〃Then I'm ready；〃 I returned； 〃to discuss the matter with him for the
rest of the voyage。〃
〃Very well； I count on you。 But he'll ask you； as he asks me； what
the deuce you want him to do。〃
〃To go to bed！〃and I'm afraid I laughed。
〃Oh it isn't a joke。〃
I didn't want to be irritating； but I made my point。 〃That's exactly
what I told you at first。〃
〃Yes； but don't exult； I hate people who exult。 Jasper asks of me；〃
she went on； 〃why he should mind her being talked about if she
doesn't mind it herself。〃
〃I'll tell him why；〃 I replied； and Mrs。 Nettlepoint said she should
be exceedingly obliged to me and repeated that she would indeed take