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of the girl： 〃Do you mean you're going to Europe？〃
〃Yes； tomorrow。 In the same ship as your mother。〃
〃That's what we've come here for； to see all about it；〃 said Mrs。
Mavis。
〃My son； take pity on me and tell me what light your telegram
throws；〃 Mrs。 Nettlepoint went on。
〃I will； dearest； when I've quenched my thirst。〃 And he slowly
drained his glass。
〃Well； I declare you're worse than Gracie；〃 Mrs。 Mavis commented。
〃She was first one thing and then the otherbut only about up to
three o'clock yesterday。〃
〃Excuse mewon't you take something？〃 Jasper inquired of Gracie； who
however still declined； as if to make up for her mother's copious
consommation。 I found myself quite aware that the two ladies would
do well to take leave； the question of Mrs。 Nettlepoint's good will
being so satisfactorily settled and the meeting of the morrow at the
ship so near at hand and I went so far as to judge that their
protracted stay； with their hostess visibly in a fidget； gave the
last proof of their want of breeding。 Miss Grace after all then was
not such an improvement on her mother； for she easily might have
taken the initiative of departure； in spite of Mrs。 Mavis's evident
〃game〃 of making her own absorption of refreshment last as long as
possible。 I watched the girl with increasing interest； I couldn't
help asking myself a question or two about her and even perceiving
already （in a dim and general way） that rather marked embarrassment；
or at least anxiety attended her。 Wasn't it complicating that she
should have needed； by remaining long enough； to assuage a certain
suspense； to learn whether or no Jasper were going to sail？ Hadn't
something particular passed between them on the occasion or at the
period to which we had caught their allusion； and didn't she really
not know her mother was bringing her to HIS mother's； though she
apparently had thought it well not to betray knowledge？ Such things
were symptomaticthough indeed one scarce knew of whaton the part
of a young lady betrothed to that curious cross…barred phantom of a
Mr。 Porterfield。 But I am bound to add that she gave me no further
warrant for wonder than was conveyed in her all tacitly and covertly
encouraging her mother to linger。 Somehow I had a sense that SHE was
conscious of the indecency of this。 I got up myself to go； but Mrs。
Nettlepoint detained me after seeing that my movement wouldn't be
taken as a hint； and I felt she wished me not to leave my fellow
visitors on her hands。 Jasper complained of the closeness of the
room； said that it was not a night to sit in a roomone ought to be
out in the air； under the sky。 He denounced the windows that
overlooked the water for not opening upon a balcony or a terrace；
until his mother； whom he hadn't yet satisfied about his telegram；
reminded him that there was a beautiful balcony in front； with room
for a dozen people。 She assured him we would go and sit there if it
would please him。
〃It will be nice and cool tomorrow； when we steam into the great
ocean；〃 said Miss Mavis； expressing with more vivacity than she had
yet thrown into any of her utterances my own thought of half an hour
before。 Mrs。 Nettlepoint replied that it would probably be freezing
cold； and her son murmured that he would go and try the drawing…room
balcony and report upon it。 Just as he was turning away he said；
smiling； to Miss Mavis： 〃Won't you come with me and see if it's
pleasant？〃
〃Oh well； we had better not stay all night！〃 her mother exclaimed；
but still without moving。 The girl moved； after a moment's
hesitation；she rose and accompanied Jasper to the other room。 I
saw how her slim tallness showed to advantage as she walked； and that
she looked well as she passed； with her head thrown back； into the
darkness of the other part of the house。 There was something rather
marked； rather surprisingI scarcely knew why； for the act in itself
was simple enoughin her acceptance of such a plea； and perhaps it
was our sense of this that held the rest of us somewhat stiffly
silent as she remained away。 I was waiting for Mrs。 Mavis to go； so
that I myself might go； and Mrs。 Nettlepoint was waiting for her to
go so that I mightn't。 This doubtless made the young lady's absence
appear to us longer than it really wasit was probably very brief。
Her mother moreover； I think； had now a vague lapse from ease。
Jasper Nettlepoint presently returned to the back drawing…room to
serve his companion with our lucent syrup； and he took occasion to
remark that it was lovely on the balcony： one really got some air；
the breeze being from that quarter。 I remembered； as he went away
with his tinkling tumbler； that from MY hand； a few minutes before；
Miss Mavis had not been willing to accept this innocent offering。 A
little later Mrs。 Nettlepoint said： 〃Well； if it's so pleasant there
we had better go ourselves。〃 So we passed to the front and in the
other room met the two young people coming in from the balcony。 I
was to wonder； in the light of later things； exactly how long they
had occupied together a couple of the set of cane chairs garnishing
the place in summer。 If it had been but five minutes that only made
subsequent events more curious。 〃We must go； mother；〃 Miss Mavis
immediately said； and a moment after； with a little renewal of
chatter as to our general meeting on the ship； the visitors had taken
leave。 Jasper went down with them to the door and as soon as they
had got off Mrs。 Nettlepoint quite richly exhaled her impression。
〃Ah but'll she be a boreshe'll be a bore of bores！〃
〃Not through talking too much； surely。〃
〃An affectation of silence is as bad。 I hate that particular pose；
it's coming up very much now； an imitation of the English； like
everything else。 A girl who tries to be statuesque at seathat will
act on one's nerves！〃
〃I don't know what she tries to be； but she succeeds in being very
handsome。〃
〃So much the better for you。 I'll leave her to you； for I shall be
shut up。 I like her being placed under my 'care'！〃 my friend cried。
〃She'll be under Jasper's；〃 I remarked。
〃Ah he won't go；〃 she wailed〃I want it too much！〃
〃But I didn't see it that way。 I have an idea he'll go。〃
〃Why didn't he tell me so thenwhen he came in？〃
〃He was diverted by that young womana beautiful unexpected girl
sitting there。〃
〃Diverted from his mother and her fond hope？his mother trembling
for his decision？〃
〃Well〃I pieced it together〃she's an old friend； older than we
know。 It was a meeting after a long separation。〃
〃Yes； such a lot of them as he does know！〃 Mrs。 Nettlepoint sighed。
〃Such a lot of them？〃
〃He has so many female friendsin the most varied circles。〃
〃Well； we can close round her then；〃 I returned； 〃for I on my side
know； or used to know； her young man。〃
〃Her intended？〃she had a light of relief for this。
〃The very one she's going out to。 He can't； by the way；〃 it occurred
to me； 〃be very young now。〃
〃How odd it soundsher muddling after him！〃 said Mrs。 Nettlepoint。
I was going to reply that it wasn't odd if you knew Mr。 Porterfield；
but I reflected that that perhaps only made it odder。 I told my
companion briefly who he wasthat I had met him in the old Paris
days； when I believed for a fleeting hour that I could learn to
paint； when I lived with the jeunesse des ecoles； and her comment on
this was simply： 〃Well； he had better have come out for her！〃
〃Perhaps so。 She looked to me as she sat there as if； she might
change her mind at the last moment。〃
〃About her marriage？
〃About sailing。 But she won't change now。〃
Jasper came back； and his mother instantly challenged him。 〃Well；
ARE you going？〃
〃Yes； I shall go〃he was finally at peace about it。 〃I've got my
telegram。〃
〃Oh your telegram！〃I ventured a little to jeer。
〃That charming girl's your telegram。〃
He gave me a look； but in the dusk I couldn't make out very well what
it conveyed。 Then he bent over his mother； kissing her。 〃My news
isn't particularly satisfactory。 I'm going for YOU。〃
〃Oh you humbug！〃 she replied。 But she was of course delighted。
CHAPTER II
People usually spend the first hours of a voyage in squeezing
themselves into their cabins； taking their little precautions； either
so excessive or so inadequate； wondering how they can pass so many
days in such a hole and asking idiotic questions of the stewards； who
appear in comparison rare men of the world。 My own initiations were
rapid； as became an old sailor； and so； it seemed； were Miss Mavis's；
for when I mounted to the deck at the end of half an hour I found her
there alone； in the stern of the ship； her eyes on the dwindling
continent。 It dwindled very fast for so big a place。 I accosted
her； having had no conversation with her amid the cro