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it in some way； and I judged the best way was jocularly； so I added：
〃Shan't you？〃
〃Oh perhaps you'll point him out！〃 And she walked quickly away。 As
I looked after her there came to me a perverse； rather a provoking
consciousness of having during the previous days； and especially in
speaking to Jasper Nettlepoint； interfered with her situation in some
degree to her loss。 There was an odd pang for me in seeing her move
about alone； I felt somehow responsible for it and asked myself why I
couldn't have kept my hands off。 I had seen Jasper in the smoking…
room more than once that day； as I passed it； and half an hour before
this had observed； through the open door； that he was there。 He had
been with her so much that without him she now struck one as bereaved
and forsaken。 This was really better； no doubt； but superficially it
movedand I admit with the last inconsequenceone's pity。 Mrs。
Peck would doubtless have assured me that their separation was
gammon： they didn't show together on deck and in the saloon； but
they made it up elsewhere。 The secret places on shipboard are not
numerous； Mrs。 Peck's 〃elsewhere〃 would have been vague； and I know
not what licence her imagination took。 It was distinct that Jasper
had fallen off； but of course what had passed between them on this
score wasn't so and could never be。 Later on； through his mother； I
had HIS version of that； but I may remark that I gave it no credit。
Poor Mrs。 Nettlepoint； on the other hand； was of course to give it
all。 I was almost capable； after the girl had left me； of going to
my young man and saying： 〃After all； do return to her a little； just
till we get in！ It won't make any difference after we land。〃 And I
don't think it was the fear he would tell me I was an idiot that
prevented me。 At any rate the next time I passed the door of the
smoking…room I saw he had left it。 I paid my usual visit to Mrs。
Nettlepoint that night； but I troubled her no further about Miss
Mavis。 She had made up her mind that everything was smooth and
settled now； and it seemed to me I had worried her； and that she had
worried herself； in sufficiency。 I left her to enjoy the deepening
foretaste of arrival； which had taken possession of her mind。 Before
turning in I went above and found more passengers on deck than I had
ever seen so late。 Jasper moved about among them alone； but I
forbore to join him。 The coast of Ireland had disappeared； but the
night and the sea were perfect。 On the way to my cabin； when I came
down； I met the stewardess in one of the passages； and the idea
entered my head to say to her： 〃Do you happen to know where Miss
Mavis is？〃
〃Why she's in her room； sir； at this hour。〃
〃Do you suppose I could speak to her？〃 It had come into my mind to
ask her why she had wanted to know of me if I should recognise Mr。
Porterfield。
〃No sir；〃 said the stewardess； 〃she has gone to bed。〃
〃That's all right。〃 And I followed the young lady's excellent
example。
The next morning； while I dressed； the steward of my side of the ship
came to me as usual to see what I wanted。 But the first thing he
said to； me was： 〃Rather a bad job； sira passenger missing。〃 And
while I took I scarce know what instant chill from it； 〃A lady； sir；〃
he went on〃whom I think you knew。 Poor Miss Mavis； sir。〃
〃MISSING？〃 I criedstaring at him and horror…stricken。
〃She's not on the ship。 They can't find her。〃
〃Then where to God is she？〃
I recall his queer face。 〃Well sir； I suppose you know that as well
as I。〃
〃Do you mean she has jumped overboard？〃
〃Some time in the night； siron the quiet。 But it's beyond every
one； the way she escaped notice。 They usually sees 'em； sir。 It
must have been about half…past two。 Lord； but she was sharp； sir。
She didn't so much as make a splash。 They say she 'AD come against
her will； sir。〃
I had dropped upon my sofaI felt faint。 The man went on； liking to
talk as persons of his class do when they have something horrible to
tell。 She usually rang for the stewardess early； but this morning of
course there had been no ring。 The stewardess had gone in all the
same about eight o'clock and found the cabin empty。 That was about
an hour previous。 Her things were there in confusionthe things she
usually wore when she went above。 The stewardess thought she had
been a bit odd the night before； but had waited a little and then
gone back。 Miss Mavis hadn't turned upand she didn't turn up。 The
stewardess began to look for hershe hadn't been seen on deck or in
the saloon。 Besides； she wasn't dressednot to show herself； all
her clothes were in her room。 There was another lady； an old lady；
Mrs。 NettlepointI would know herthat she was sometimes with； but
the stewardess had been with HER and knew Miss Mavis hadn't come near
her that morning。 She had spoken to HIM and they had taken a quiet
lookthey had hunted everywhere。 A ship's a big place； but you did
come to the end of it； and if a person wasn't there why there it was。
In short an hour had passed and the young lady was not accounted for：
from which I might judge if she ever would be。 The watch couldn't
account for her； but no doubt the fishes in the sea couldpoor
miserable pitiful lady！ The stewardess and he had of course thought
it their duty to speak at once to the Doctor； and the Doctor had
spoken immediately to the Captain。 The Captain didn't like itthey
never did； but he'd try to keep it quietthey always did。
By the time I succeeded in pulling myself together and getting on；
after a fashion； the rest of my clothes I had learned that Mrs。
Nettlepoint wouldn't yet have been told； unless the stewardess had
broken it to her within the previous few minutes。 Her son knew； the
young gentleman on the other side of the shiphe had the other
steward； my man had seen him come out of his cabin and rush above；
just before he came in to me。 He HAD gone above； my man was sure； he
hadn't gone to the old lady's cabin。 I catch again the sense of my
dreadfully seeing something at that moment； catch the wild flash；
under the steward's words； of Jasper Nettlepoint leaping； with a mad
compunction in his young agility； over the side of the ship。 I
hasten to add； however； that no such incident was destined to
contribute its horror to poor Grace Mavis's unwitnessed and unlighted
tragic act。 What followed was miserable enough； but I can only
glance at it。 When I got to Mrs。 Nettlepoint's door she was there
with a shawl about her； the stewardess had just told her and she was
dashing out to come to me。 I made her go backI said I would go for
Jasper。 I went for him but I missed him； partly no doubt because it
was really at first the Captain I was after。 I found this personage
and found him highly scandalised； but he gave me no hope that we were
in error； and his displeasure； expressed with seamanlike strength；
was a definite settlement of the question。 From the deck； where I
merely turned round and looked； I saw the light of another summer
day； the coast of Ireland green and near and the sea of a more
charming colour than it had shown at all。 When I came below again
Jasper had passed back； he had gone to his cabin and his mother had
joined him there。 He remained there till we reached LiverpoolI
never saw him。 His mother； after a little； at his request； left him
alone。 All the world went above to look at the land and chatter
about our tragedy； but the poor lady spent the day； dismally enough；
in her room。 It seemed to me； the dreadful day； intolerably long； I
was thinking so of vague； of inconceivable yet inevitable
Porterfield； and of my having to face him somehow on the morrow。 Now
of course I knew why she had asked me if I should recognise him； she
had delegated to me mentally a certain pleasant office。 I gave Mrs。
Peck and Mrs。 Gotch a wide berthI couldn't talk to them。 I could；
or at least I did a little； to Mrs。 Nettlepoint； but with too many
reserves for comfort on either side； since I quite felt how little it
would now make for ease to mention Jasper to her。 I was obliged to
assume by my silence that he had had nothing to do with what had
happened； and of course I never really ascertained what he HAD had to
do。 The secret of what passed between him and the strange girl who
would have sacrificed her marriage to him on so short an acquaintance
remains shut up in his breast。 His mother； I know； went to his door
from time to time； but he refused her admission。 That evening； to be
human at a venture； I requested the steward to go in and ask him if
he should care to see me； and the good man returned with an answer
which he candidly transmitted。 〃Not in the least！〃Jasper
apparently was almost as scandalised as the Captain。
At Liverpool； at the dock； when we had touched； twenty people came on
board and I had already made out Mr。 Porterfield at a dist