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still gayly；〃But what's the use of anticipating？ Why should we
spoil any little surprise that our gallant captain may have in
store for us？ I've been trying to convert this business man to my
easy philosophy； Miss Keene； but he is incorrigible； he is actually
lamenting his lost chance of hearing the latest news at Mazatlan；
and getting the latest market quotations； instead of offering a
thanksgiving for another uninterrupted day of freedom in this
glorious air。〃
With a half humorous extravagance he unloosed his already loose
necktie； turned his Byron collar still lower； and squared his
shoulders ostentatiously to the sea breeze。 Accustomed as his two
companions were to his habitually extravagant speech； it did not at
that moment seem inconsistent with the intoxicating morning air and
the exhilaration of sky and wave。 A breath of awakening and
resurrection moved over the face of the waters； recreation and new…
born life sparkled everywhere； the past night seemed forever buried
in the vast and exundating sea。 The reefs had been shaken out； and
every sail set to catch the steadier breeze of the day； and as the
quickening sun shone upon the dazzling canvas that seemed to
envelop them； they felt as if wrapped in the purity of a baptismal
robe。
Nevertheless； Miss Keene's eyes occasionally wandered from the
charming prospect towards the companion…ladder。 Presently she
became ominously and ostentatiously interested in the view again；
and at the same moment a young man's head and shoulders appeared
above the companionway。 With a bound he was on the slanting deck；
moving with the agility and adaptability of youth； and approached
the group。 He was quite surprised to find Miss Keene there so
early； and Miss Keene was equally surprised at his appearance；
notwithstanding the phenomenon had occurred with singular
regularity for the last three weeks。 The two spectators of this
gentle comedy received it as they had often received it before；
with a mixture of apparent astonishment and patronizing
unconsciousness； and； after a decent interval； moved away together；
leaving the young people alone。
The hesitancy and awkwardness which usually followed the first
moments of their charming isolation were this morning more than
usually prolonged。
〃It seems we are not going into Mazatlan； after all；〃 said Miss
Keene at last； without lifting her conscious eyes from the sea。
〃No；〃 returned the young fellow quickly。 〃I heard all about it
down below； and we had quite an indignation meeting over it。 I
believe Mrs。 Markham wanted to head a deputation to wait upon the
captain in his berth。 It seems that the first officer； or
whosoever is running the ship； has concluded we've lost too much
time already； and we're going to strike a bee…line for Cape St。
Lucas； and give Mazatlan the go…by。 We'll save four days by it。 I
suppose it don't make any difference to you； Miss Keene； does it？〃
〃I？ Oh； no！〃 said the girl hastily。
〃I'M rather sorry；〃 he said hesitatingly。
〃Indeed。 Are you tired of the ship？〃 she asked saucily。
〃No；〃 he replied bluntly； 〃but it would have given us four more
days togetherfour more days before we separated。〃
He stopped； with a heightened color。 There was a moment of
silence； and the voices of Senor Perkins and Mr。 Banks in political
discussion on the other side of the deck came faintly。 Miss Keene
laughed。
〃We are a long way from San Francisco yet； and you may think
differently。〃
〃Never！〃 he said； impulsively。
He had drawn closer to her； as if to emphasize his speech。 She
cast a quick glance across the deck towards the two disputants； and
drew herself gently away。
〃Do you know；〃 she said suddenly； with a charming smile which
robbed the act of its sting； 〃I sometimes wonder if I am REALLY
going to San Francisco。 I don't know how it is； but； somehow； I
never can SEE myself there。〃
〃I wish you did； for I'M going there；〃 he replied boldly。
Without appearing to notice the significance of his speech； she
continued gravely：
〃I have been so strongly impressed with this feeling at times that
it makes me quite superstitious。 When we had that terrible storm
after we left Callao； I thought it meant thatthat we were all
going down； and we should never be heard of again。〃
〃As long as we all went together；〃 he said； 〃I don't know that it
would be the worst thing that could happen。 I remember that storm；
Miss Keene。 And I remember〃He stopped timidly。
〃What？〃 she replied； raising her smiling eyes for the first time to
his earnest face。
〃I remember sitting up all night near your state…room； with a cork
jacket and lots of things I'd fixed up for you； and thinking I'd
die before I trusted you alone in the boat to those rascally
Lascars of the crew。〃
〃But how would you have prevented it？〃 asked Miss Keene； with a
compassionate and half…maternal amusement。
〃I don't know exactly；〃 he said； coloring； 〃but I'd have lashed you
to some spar； or made a raft； and got you ashore on some island。〃
〃And poor Mrs。 Markham and Mrs。 Brimmeryou'd have left them to
the boats and the Lascars； I suppose？〃 smiled Miss Keene。
〃Oh； somebody would have looked after Mrs。 Markham； and Mrs。
Brimmer wouldn't have gone with anybody that wasn't well connected。
But what's the use of talking？〃 he added ruefully。 〃Nothing has
happened； and nothing is going to happen。 You will see yourself in
San Francisco； even if you don't see ME there。 You're going to a
rich brother； Miss Keene； who has friends of his own； and who won't
care to know a poor fellow whom you tolerated on the passage； but
who don't move in Mrs。 Brimmer's set； and whom Mr。 Banks wouldn't
indorse commercially。〃
〃Ah； you don't know my brother； Mr。 Brace。〃
〃Nor do you； very well； Miss Keene。 You were saying； only last
night； you hardly remembered him。〃
The young girl sighed。
〃I was very young when he went West；〃 she said explanatorily； 〃but
I dare say I shall recall him。 What I meant is； that he will be
very glad to know that I have been so happy here； and he will like
all those who have made me so。〃
〃Then you have been happy？〃
〃Yes； very。〃 She had withdrawn her eyes； and was looking vaguely
towards the companion…way。 〃Everybody has been so kind to me。〃
〃And you are grateful to all？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Equally？〃
The ship gave a sudden forward plunge。 Miss Keene involuntarily
clutched the air with her little hand； that had been resting on the
settee between them； and the young man caught it in his own。
〃Equally？〃 he repeated； with an assumed playfulness that half
veiled his anxiety。 〃Equallyfrom the beaming Senor Perkins； who
smiles on all； to the gloomy Mr。 Hurlstone； who smiles on no one？〃
She quickly withdrew her hand； and rose。 〃I smell the breakfast；〃
she said laughingly。 〃Don't be horrified； Mr。 Brace； but I'm very