THE HONORABLE PERCIVAL

[Illustration: Their boat had sailed]

THE HONORABLE PERCIVAL

BY ALICE HEGAN RICE

AUTHOR OF "MRS. WIGGS OF THE CABBAGE PATCH, ""A ROMANCE OF BILLY-GOAT HILL, " ETC. 

 NEW YORK THE CENTURY CO. 1914

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 Copyright, 1914, by THE CENTURY CO. Copyright, 1914, by MCCLURE'S MAGAZINE

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 _Published, October, 1914_

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

 I A BLIGHTED BEING

 II A COUNTER-IRRITANT

 III CONVALESCENCE

 IV COUNTER-CURRENTS

 V STRANDED

 VI IN THE WIND-SHELTER

 VII THE DAY THAT NEVER WAS

 VIII IN THE CROW'S-NEST

 IX DRAGGING ANCHOR

 X ON THE SEARCH

 XI THE GYMKHANA

 XII THE SONG OF THE SIREN

 XIII PERCIVAL PROCRASTINATES

 XIV NEPTUNE TAKES A HAND

 XV PERCIVAL RISES TO AN OCCASION

 XVI IN PORT

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Their boat had sailed

"Well, did you ever! Where did _you_ come from?"

Her hair, still damp, was hanging about her shoulders, and she carrieda bundle of bath-towels under her arm

"Mr. Hascombe!" she demanded breathlessly, "you'll take me out in thesurf-boat, won't you?"

At a break-neck speed towards the wharf

"I don't know what makes me so everlastingly silly!" she said fiercelytrying to swallow the rising sobs, "but he _won't_ understand!"

"I like the way your mouth looks when you read it"

"Roberta!" he called sternly. "What are you doing out here?"

"You will have to join the crowd, " suggested Bobby when Percivalcomplained of not seeing her as often as he wished

"If you want to hold my hand, Mr. Hascombe, you are welcome to it"

He sat on a table swinging his feet in unison with a lot of other youngfeet, while he sipped lemonade from the same glass as Bobby Boynton

"Isn't that the prettiest thing you ever saw?" she asked, glancing athim over her shoulder

"It's quite worth while, " he said, "getting a jab in the wrist, to haveyou looking after me like this"

"I'm so sorry!" whispered Bobby, putting her arm impulsively around hisheaving shoulders

 * * * * *

THE HONORABLE PERCIVAL

I

A BLIGHTED BEING

The Honorable Percival Hascombe came aboard the Pacific liner aboutto sail from San Francisco, preceded by a fur coat, a gun-case, twopigskin bags, a hat-box, and a valet. He was tall and slender, andmoved with an air of fastidious distinction. He wore a small mustache, a monocle, and an expression of unutterable ennui. His costume consistedof a smart tweed traveling-suit, with cap to match, white spats, anda pair of binoculars swung across his shoulders. In his eyes was thelook, carefully maintained, of one who has sounded the depths of humantragedy. 

Since his advent into the world twenty-eight years before, he hadbeen made to feel but one responsibility. His elder brother, havingpersistently refused to provide himself with a wife and heir, the dutyof perpetuating the family name fell upon him, Percival Hascombe, secondson of the late Earl of Westenhanger, of Hascombe Hall, fifth in descentfrom the great Westenhanger whose marble effigy adorns the dullest andmost respectable cathedral in southern England. 

From the time Percival had been able to cast a discriminating eye, hisadoring family had presented the feminine flowers of the country-sidefor his inspection. One after another they had met with his graveconsideration and subsequent disapprobation. Fears had begun to beentertained that he would follow in the solitary footsteps of hisbachelor brother, when Lady Hortense Vevay appeared on the scene. 

Lady Hortense, with her mother, the Duchess of Dare, had come downto Devon for the shooting one autumn, seeking rest after a strenuoussocial season following her presentation at court. She had been thereless than a week when she bagged the biggest game in the neighborhood. The explanation was obvious: the Lady Hortense had no faults to bediscovered. The closest inspection through two pairs of glasses, Percival's and her own, failed to reveal a flaw. Her birth and positionwere equal to his own; her beauty, if attenuated, was sufficient; whileher discriminating taste amounted to a virtue. The Honorable Percivalproffered his hand, and was accepted. Hascombe Hall rang with applause. 

All might have been well had not mother and daughter been pressed toseal the compact by a closer intimacy in a ten-days' visit at the hall. The young people were allowed to bask uninterrupted in the light of eachother's perfections, and the result was disastrous. Two persons who haveachieved distinction as soloists do not take kindly to duets. A few daysafter the Vevays' return to London, Lady Hortense wrote a perfectlyworded note, and asked to be released from the engagement. 

The utterly preposterous fact that a Hascombe of Hascombe Hall had beenjilted was too amazing a circumstance to be concealed, and the countybuzzed with rumors. The Honorable Percival, whose pride had sustaineda compound fracture, set sail immediately for America. After a hurriedtrip across the continent, he was embarking again, this time forHong-Kong, where a sympathetic married sister held out embracing arms, and a promise of refuge from wagging tongues. 

As he moved languidly down the deck and sank into the steamer-chair thatbore his name, he assured himself for the fortieth time since leavingEngland that life bored him to tears. He had sounded its joys and itssorrows, he had exhausted its thrills; it was like a scenic railwayover which he was compelled to ride after every detail had becomemonotonously familiar. There was nothing more for him to learn aboutlife, nothing more for him to feel. At least that is what the HonorablePercival thought. But when one reckons too confidently on havingexhausted the varieties of human experience, one is apt to get a jolt. 

Carefully selecting a cigarette from a gold case, he struck a light, and, after a whiff or two, lay back and, closing his eyes on the stirand confusion, gave himself up to painful reflections. His shrunkenself-esteem, like a feathered thing exposed to wet weather, wasclamoring for a sunny spot in which to expand to natural proportions. Had he been able to remain at home, the unending chorus of femininepraise would soon have dried his draggled feathers and left him preeninghimself contentedly in the comforting assurance that Lady Hortense wasin no way worthy of him. But being confronted thus suddenly with thenecessity of supplying his egotism with all its nourishment, he foundhimself unequal to the task. Behind every consoling thought stalked thattotally incredible "No. " He tortured his brain for possible reasons forHortense's deflection, but could find none. Detail by detail he reviewedtheir acquaintance from the first time he had bowed over her fingers, in Lord Carlton's hunting-lodge, to the moment he had touched his lipsto the same fingers in formal farewell on the terrace at Hascombe Hall. It had been such a well-bred courtship from the start, so thoroughlyapproved by both sides, so perfectly conducted throughout!

Then, following suddenly on this smooth course of events, came a seriesof bumps that made Percival wince as he recalled them: protests, evasions, humiliating questions on the part of the public, and thenignominious flight. He shuddered as he thought of the dull, wet days onthe Atlantic and his hideous week in America. He had been in a perpetualstate of protest against everything from the hotel service to what hetermed the "crass vulgarity of the States. "

There had been but one oasis in the desert of gloom through which he hadtraveled, and that had been on his interminable trip across thecontinent, when for ten brief minutes his blight had been lifted, and hehad caught a breath of the incense for which his soul hungered. 

It was at a little station in Wyoming that he, a convalescent from love, had for the first time in weeks managed to look up and take a bit ofamatory nourishment. He was standing alone on the rear platform of theobservation-car, arms on railing, watching with no interest whateverthe taking off of mail-bags. Suddenly within his line of vision came astalwart young chap and a girl, each astride a bronco. They drew rein atthe platform, cursorily scanned the waiting train, glanced at him, thenat each other, and, apparently without the slightest reason, burst intounrestrained merriment. Percival continued to survey them calmly andhaughtily through his monocle. His first glance had revealed the factthat the girl was strikingly pretty. Her lithe young body showed roundand comely in its khaki suit and brown leggings. Her black mane wasbraided in two short, thick plaits with a dash of scarlet ribbons at theends. Blue eyes, full of daring, danced under the blackest of brows, andthe smile she flashed at her companion revealed a dimple of distractingproportions. 

As Percival gazed he was quite oblivious of the fact that the laughwas at his expense. In fact, he accorded her darting glances a farmore flattering interpretation, and when her escort dismounted, anddisappeared within the station, he deliberately caught her eye and heldit. There was a touch of daring in her face and figure, an evident senseof security in the fact that the train was already beginning to move. Heshifted his position from the end of the platform to the side next thestation, and she met the challenge by gathering up her reins and keepingpace with the slow-moving train. 

For a short distance road and track lay parallel, and as the trainslowly got under way, the bronco was put to a run. Side by side, notten feet apart, Percival and the girl moved abreast, their eyes keepingcompany. He had never seen anything so vitally young and untrammeledas she was. She rode superbly, like an Indian, leaning well forward, gripping the bronco with her knees, with one hand grasping his mane. Every muscle was tense with life, every nerve a-quiver with glee. Before the young Englishman knew it, his own sluggish blood was stirringin his veins through sympathy. Then the train began to gain upon her, and throwing herself back in the saddle, she shook a vanquished head. As Percival raised his cap she wheeled her horse, and, standing in thestirrups, blew an audacious kiss from her finger-tips. The next instantshe was dashing away across the wide, bleak prairies, the only livingthing in sight, her scarlet ribbons a streak of color in the dull-graylandscape. 

Percival had taken heart of grace from that airy kiss. It stood to himas a symbol that, though one of the sex had proved a deserter to hisstandard, there were still volunteers. He treasured the incident as aking treasures the homage of his humblest subject when rebellion is rifein the kingdom. On such trifles often hang one's self-esteem. 

When the stir and bustle on deck became so lively that he was no longerable to indulge in introspection, he got up and indifferently joined themoving throng. The warning had sounded for those going ashore, and thenumerous gangways were crowded. Passengers lined the promenade-deck, shouting and waving to the crowd on the wharf below. From thebridge-deck the captain could be heard cheerfully swearing through amegaphone at the second officer below. Chinese deck-stewards glidedabout in their felt slippers, trying to attach the right person to theright steamer-chair. Cabin-boys scurried about with baskets of fruit andflowers and other sea-going impedimenta that, after one appreciativeglance from the recipient, are usually consigned to the ice-box. Allwas noise and confusion. 

Percival's critical eye swept the line of human backs that presentedthemselves at the railing. The same old types! He could describe themwith his eyes shut: the conventional globe-trotters, avid to obtain andto impart information; business men comparing statistics and endlesslydiscussing the tariff; rich wanderers in quest of health; poormissionaries in quest of "foreign fields"; fussy Frenchmen; stolidGermans; a few suspicious-looking Englishmen; and always the ubiquitousAmericans, who had the same effect upon him that a highly colored clothhas on the delicate sensibilities of a certain large animal. 

The most conspicuous example of the last class was a somewhat noisyyoung person in a still more resonant steamer-coat who hung at an angleof forty-five degrees over the railing, and exchanged confidences of apersonal nature with an old man on the wharf twenty feet below. Everytime Percival's walk brought him toward the bow of the boat, his eyeswere offended by that blue-and-lavender steamer-coat and by a pair ofbeaded-leather slippers with three straps across the instep and absurdlyhigh French heels. Could any one but an American, he soliloquized, beguilty of starting on a journey in such a costume?

The prospect of being imprisoned between decks for four weeks, withthis heterogeneous collection appalled him. His only safety lay inmaintaining a rigid and uncompromising aloofness. He would discourageall advances from the start, he would promptly nip in the bud the firstsign of intrusion. He had left the only country an Englishman regards asthe proper place for existence, to cross two abominable seas and an evenmore abominable continent, for the sole purpose of privacy, and privacyhe meant to have at all costs. 

As the _Saluria_ weighed anchor and steamed out of the Golden Gate, he went below to see that his valet had made satisfactory disposition ofhis varied belongings. His state-room was at the end of a short passageleading from the main, one, and he was displeased at finding the deepledge under the passage window completely filled with flowers and fruitthat evidently belonged to some one occupying a room in the same passage. 

He rang for the cabin-boy. 

"Remove that greengrocer's shop!" he commanded peremptorily. "It isabominably stuffy down here. We can't have the port-holes filled up likethat, you know. "

The bland face of the young Chinaman assumed an expression of mildinquiry. 

"Take away!" ordered Percival, resorting to gesture. 

"No can, " said the boy, calmly. "All same b'long one missy. Missy b'longcap'n. "

Percival turned impatiently to his valet, who was coming through thepassage. 

"Judson, get those things out of the window, and keep them out. Do youhear?"

"Yes, sir. But where shall I put them, sir?"

"On the floor--in the sea--wherever you like, " said Percival, as heslipped his arms into the top-coat that was being respectfully heldfor him. 

Once again on deck, he found that the wind had acquired a sudden edge. The short chop of the waves and scudding of gray clouds indicated thatthe customary bit of rough weather after leaving the Golden Gate was tobe expected. Percival was not happy in rough weather. He attributed itto extreme sensitiveness to atmospheric conditions. Whatever the cause, the result remained that he was not happy. 

The motion of the vessel made him pause a moment. The casual observerwould have said he stopped to cast an experienced eye on a sky thatcould not deceive him; but the casual observer does not always know. It is a long distance between the prow and the stern of an ocean liner, when the deck is composed of alternating mountains and valleys that onehas to climb and descend. Percival found it decidedly hard going beforehe reached his steamer-chair. 

When he did so, he encountered a sight that filled him with chagrin. Wrapped in the folds of his rug was that obnoxious blue-and-lavendersteamer-coat, with its owner snugly ensconced within, her eyes closed, and her cheek brazenly reposing on the Hascombe crest that adorned thepillow under her head!

Percival paused, irresolute, and his nostrils quivered. He wantedvery much to sit down, and he was unwilling to occupy any othersteamer-chair, for fear its owner might claim it. There was nothing leftfor him but to pace up and down that undulating deck until the youngperson opened her eyes and discovered, by glances which he would renderunmistakable, that she was trespassing. 

When his third round brought him in front of her, and he saw that shewas awake, he carefully adjusted his monocle, and turned upon her a lookthat was not unfamiliar to certain menials in the employ of HascombeHall. 

But no withering blight followed his look. Instead, the wearer of thegaudy coat sat up suddenly and said, with a radiant smile:

"Well, did you ever! Where did _you_ come from?"

[Illustration: "Well, did you ever! Where did _you_ come from?"]

By a curious twist, his mind suddenly beheld a rolling prairie in placeof the tumbling sea, and a comely figure in khaki and brown leggings inplace of the muffled form in the hideous coat. His suspicion wasconfirmed when he met the frank gaze of the bluest eyes that ever held achallenge. 

Instead of being amused, Percival was profoundly annoyed. The incidenton the train had been pretty enough in its way, but it was closed. As itstood, it had been rather artistic and satisfying. A wild, unknown bitof femininity dashing into his life for ten throbbing minutes, thenvanishing into the sunset, was one thing, and this very tangible youngperson in clothes of the wrong cut and color, addressing him in terms ofeasy familiarity, was quite another. 

"I beg your pardon, " he said stiffly. "Did you address me?"

Her eyes clouded. 

"Why, I thought--I thought you were some one I knew. Is this your chair?"

"It is. Pray do not discommode yourself?"

"That is all right, " she answered, trying to disentangle her high heelsfrom his rug. "I've had my nap, thank you. Think I'll go down and get asandwich. "

Percival waited in frigid silence until she had departed; then he sanklimply into the warm nest she had just left, and closed his eyes on aworld that failed in all respects to give satisfaction. 

II

A COUNTER-IRRITANT

If there is a place on earth where one meets with the present faceto face, it is on shipboard. Whether salt water and sea air act as anarcotic on memories of the past and dreams of the future has never beenproved, but it is undeniably true that at sea time becomes a staticthing and concerns itself solely with the affairs of the moment. 

During that first long afternoon Percival slept; and if the faithlessHortense essayed to haunt his dreams, she was drowned in the profundityof his slumber. It was not until his valet touched his arm andrespectfully submitted the information that the first gong had soundedfor dinner that he woke to the fact that the _Saluria_ was stillswinging from the trough to the summit of increasingly high waves andthat the deck was virtually deserted. 

"If you are not feeling quite the thing, sir, " said the valet, solicitously, "shall I serve your dinner on deck, sir?"

Instantly Percival rose. 

"By no means, " he said coldly. "Get me a sherry and bitters. I'll dressat once. "

Proud indifference to every passing sensation was manifest in eachdetail of his careful toilet when he took his place at the captain'stable some twenty minutes later. With a haughty inclination of the head, he seated himself and, apparently unaware of the glances cast upon him, devoted himself to an absorbed perusal of the menu. He was quite used tobeing looked at; in fact, he suffered the admiration of the public withnoble tolerance: only it must keep its distance; he could have nopresuming. 

On his arrival the conversation suffered a sudden chill; but thecaptain, who knew the signs of approaching icebergs, soon steered thetalk back into warm waters. It was evident that the captain was in thehabit of occupying the center of the stage, a fact which should havegratified Percival, inasmuch as it focused attention at the far endof the table. Strange to say, he was not gratified. He conceived animmediate dislike for the large, good-looking officer, who seemed builtespecially to show off his smart uniform, and who brazenly ignored allconventions save those of navigation, His peculiarities of speech, whichat another time might have gratified Percival and confirmed the reporthe was bearing back to England that Americans were, if possible, moreobnoxious at home than abroad, now jarred upon him grievously. He foundit difficult to follow the story that was causing the present merriment. 

"And when my Nelson eye discovered, " the captain was concluding, "thatAh Foo was perambulating an affair in Shanghai, I summoned the slave andasked him if his mind was set on becoming festooned in matrimony. Hethought it was. So I up and bought the damsel for him, paid one hundredMex. For her, and, if you'll believe me, haven't had a dime's worth ofwork out of Ah Foo since!"

Percival found himself on the dry beach of non-comprehension when thetide of laughter followed the receding story, "A cup of very strong tea and dry toast, " he said over his shoulder tothe waiting Chinaman. 

As his eyes returned to the study of the menu, he was for the first timeaware that the objectionable young person, with a glitter of rhinestonesin her hair, was sitting next the captain, giving him story for story, and laughing much more than the occasion seemed to Percival to warrant. He particularly disliked to hear a woman laugh aloud in public, and hewas vexed with himself that he looked up every time her laugh rang out. To be sure, she was well worth looking at. Despite the clashing colorsof her costume, he could not deny the charm of her blue eyes and blackhair, and of the red lips whose only fault was that they smiled toomuch. It was her dress, her freedom, her unrestrained gaiety thatoffended Percival. In England a girl of her age would still be atrembling bud, modestly hiding behind a mass of elderly foliage. 

The absence of a chaperon puzzled him. The two other women at the table, a Mrs. Weston and her daughter, had evidently just met her, and thecaptain seemed to be the only one who had known her before. He calledher "Bobby, " and treated her with the easy familiarity of a big brother. 

"Don't talk to me about Wyoming!" he was saying now, in answer to someboast of hers. "Anybody can have it that wants it. I make 'em a presentof it, with Dakota thrown in. You remember, Bobby, the last time I wasat the ranch? All hands on deck at two bells in the morning watch, atwenty-mile sail on a bucking bronco, then back to the ranch, where weshipped a cargo of food that would sink a tramp, A gallon or so of soupin the hold, a saddle of venison, a broiled antelope, and six vegetablesin the forward hatchway, with three kinds of pie in the bunkers. It wasa regular food jag three times a day. It took me just two weeks at seato get over those two days on land. "

Percival stirred uneasily. His tea and toast were long in coming, and acertain haunted look was dawning on his face. Through the port-holes hecould see the deep-purple sky rising to give place to still deeper-purplesea as the ship rose with sickening regularity. He took an olive. 

"Isn't there a good deal of motion?" asked Mrs. Weston, a delicate, appealing blonde, whose opinions were always tentative until theyreceived the stamp of masculine approval. 

"Motion!" thundered the captain, bringing down a huge tattooed fist onthe table. "Isn't that like a woman? When I have ordered this calmweather especially for Mrs. Weston's benefit! I've a good mind towhistle for a hurricane. "

"No, no, please!" she protested in mock terror. 

Percival turned away from the foolish chatter. Matters of a deep andsinister nature occupied his mind. He felt within him wars and rumors ofwars. He wished that the curtains would stop swinging out from the wallin that silly fashion. It was deuced uncanny to see them hang at anangle of twenty-five degrees, then slowly and mysteriously fall backinto their places. He tried not to watch them, but it was even moredangerous to look at the man next him breaking soft-boiled eggs into aglass tumbler. He took another olive. 

An electric fan overhead whirred incessantly, and the bright, flashingblades smote his eyes with diabolical precision. The circular motion, instead of cooling him, brought beads of perspiration to his brow. 

"Who'll have some Chinese chow?" asked the captain. "I always order adish or two the first night out. Can't give you any birds'-nest soup--"

A violent shudder passed over Percival, and he made a lightningcalculation of the distance from the table to the stairway. In doing sohe noted that it was a spiral stairway. Why in the name of heaven waseverything round? The port-holes, the revolving-chairs, the electricfans, the plates, the olives--

At the thought of olives, all the pent-up possibilities became imminentcertainties. He rose dizzily, collided with the Chinaman bringing histea, and made blindly for the stairs. Half-way up, he staggered; eachstep rose to meet him, then fell away from his foot the moment hetouched it. He grasped the baluster-rail, and stood wildly clinging, like a shipwrecked sailor to a mast. He was dazed, dumb, paralyzed withfear of the inevitable, and aware only of the burst of uncontrollablelaughter that had followed his abrupt retreat. Somebody from above heldout a succoring hand, at which he grasped frantically. Stumbling, halfblind, this unfortunate victim to atmospheric conditions was guided upthe remaining stops and out on deck, where he was anchored to therailing and kindly left to his fate. 

III

CONVALESCENCE

During the monotonous days that followed, the Honorable PercivalHascombe discovered that the satisfaction of being exclusive is usuallytempered by the discomfort of being bored. So lofty and forbidding hadbeen his manner that no one had ventured to intrude even a casual goodmorning. A bachelor under thirty, with a competence of such dimensionsthat it had entailed incompetency, and a doting family that dancedattendance upon his every whim, he was figuratively as well as literallyat sea in this new environment. At times he faltered in his sterndetermination not to allow any one to become acquainted with him. It wasonly the fear that any leniency might result in undue liberty on thepart of some aggressive American that caused him to preserve his deepseclusion. 

Bored, blasé, blighted, he had one more affliction to endure. The youngperson had gotten hopelessly on his nerves; in fact, she was the mostdisturbing object on the horizon. She played shuffle-board in front ofhis chair when he wanted to read; she practised new dance-steps withthe first officer when he wanted to sleep; she caused him to lift hisunwilling eyes a dozen times an hour by her endless circuits of thedeck. She was on terms of friendship with everybody on board excepthimself, including the second class and steerage. There seemed no end toher activities, no limit to her enthusiasm. The more she attracted hisunwilling attention, the more persistently he ignored her. 

As the time passed and danger of intrusion lessened, his ennuiincreased. One dull, humid day, when the whole world resembled adripping sponge, Percival reached the limit of his endurance. The canvaswas down, and nothing could be seen but long vistas of slippery decks, with barefooted Chinese sailors everlastingly mopping and slopping aboutin the wet. He had counted the five hundred and fiftieth raindrop thatclung to the red life-belt at the rail when he saw the young Scotchmannext him look at his watch. 

"What time do you make it?" asked Percival, and his voice sounded almoststrange to him. 

"Eleven, " said the man, getting to his feet; "aboot time for the fun tobegin in the bathing-tank. "

Ordinarily Percival would have allowed the conversation to end there, but he felt now that he would be risking his sanity if he sat there anylonger counting raindrops. 

"What's taking place?" he asked listlessly. 

"The usual morning diversion: the captain's daughter is teaching acouple of bairns to swim. "

"Surely they won't go in on a beastly day like this!"

"I'll be bound they do. Shall we go find out?"

Forward a number of people were already hanging over the rail, highlydiverted at what was taking place in the big canvas tank on the deckbelow. Percival, looking down, beheld the young person standing onthe lower rung of a ladder, coaxing a small boy to jump from theplatform above. Now, on several occasions in the past Percival had metDisillusion face to face in a bathing-suit. A certain attenuated memoryof the faithless Hortense made him wince even yet. But the round andgraceful figure poised in dancing impatience on the ladder-rung defiedcriticism. Much as he disapproved of the public exhibition, he could notcheck a breath of admiration. 

The small boy shivering on the platform vibrated between courage andfear; then, urged by the shouts from above, and lured by that sparklingface and those outstretched arms below, he leaped. Shrieks of laughterfollowed as his fat little body spanked the water, and was quicklyrighted and deposited, gasping, but victorious, on a life-buoy. Then thesmall girl must dive, and after that all three must splash and jump andfloat and swim like a trio of mad young porpoises. 

The Honorable Percival was a good swimmer himself, and his interestkindled as he watched the perfect ease with which the young personhandled herself in the narrow confines of the tank. While he deploredthe wretched taste of the proceeding, he had to admit that she carriedit off with admirable lack of self-consciousness. She swam as she dideverything else, with impetuous joy, and seemed as unaware of theadmiring glances of the spectators as the children themselves. 

"Did ye see her the other day when she climbed to the crow's-nest?"asked the Scotchman, with enthusiasm. 

"No, " said Percival, curtly. 

"The wind was blowing at a bittie, but she went up the rigging like asailor. I doubt if the lass would be afraid of the de'il himself. "

"Probably jolly well used to all this sort of thing, " said Percival, wearily. 

"Indeed, no; this is her first sea-voyage. She never saw a ship before. "

"I thought you said she was the captain's daughter. "

"So she is; but he's had her out on a Western ranch since she was a bitof a lass. Quite a romance!"

"Really?"

"Yes. Her mother was a play-actress. Ran off with an English nobleman. Left the captain and the lassie in the lurch, and died before shereached England. I had the story from the purser. "

"Where's the girl going now?"

"The captain is fetching her the round trip to Hong-Kong, to break offsome love-affair at home, I believe. But if she's as canny as she'sbonny, I'll wager she'll outwit him before they have done. "

Percival, who at first had remained in the back row of the spectators, during this recital moved to the front, and now as he looked down hesuddenly encountered the laughing glance of the person under discussion. She was lazily watching him from where she floated in the water, withher loosened hair circling in a dark cloud about her head. Theexpression on her face gave him instant cause for alarm. 

Since that first day when she had spoken to him, he had studiouslyavoided meeting her eye, and had even come to congratulate himself onhaving removed from her mind the suspicion of a former encounter. Butthere was that in the glance that now met and held his that dispelledany such hope. It indicated all too clearly that she had not beendeceived, and that she was treating the matter with unbecoming levity. 

Percival returned haughtily to his steamer-chair, but not to countraindrops. He had food for new and most irritating reflections. Thegirl's refusal to take his cue and ignore the very mild flirtation thathad occurred on the car-platform placed him in a situation at onceawkward and embarrassing. He rather prided himself on never takingadvantage of any tribute of admiration that might be tendered him by theless experienced of her sex. On more than one occasion in the past hehad heroically extinguished the tender flames that his own charms hadkindled in susceptible bosoms. He had come to share the belief of hismother that he possessed a rare degree of chivalry in protecting womenagainst himself. 

But this impossible child of Nature either did not know the rules ofthe game, or chose to ignore them. He would be forced to continue thisdistasteful partnership memory, or else dissolve it with a casualreference to the episode, which would dispose of it for good and all. He had about decided upon the latter course when Fate forestalled him. 

On his way down to luncheon he encountered Miss Boynton coming up thecompanionway. Her hair, still damp, was hanging about her shoulders, andshe carried a bundle of bath-towels under her arm. Both stood politelyaside, then both started forward, meeting midway. 

[Illustration: Her hair, still damp, was hanging about her shoulders, and she carried a bundle of bath-towels under her arm. ]

"I--I--beg your pardon, " said Percival. 

"What for?" she asked. 

"For--for not recognizing you the other day. " It was not in the leastwhat he had meant to say, but it was said, and he must go on as best hecould. "Not expecting to see you, you know, and all that. "

She stood shaking her hair in the breeze and smiling. While sheevidently bore no resentment, she was not helping him out in hisapology. 

"One sees so many faces in traveling, " he went on lamely, "and all somuch alike. "

"I'd have known your face anywhere, " she said. 

He took a step downward, but she did not move. Instead she leanednonchalantly against the wall and began braiding her hair. 

"I know your name, too, " she said, with a look half daring and halfquizzical. "I looked you up on the passenger-list. "

"But how did you know--"

"Oh, it was easy to spot you. You were the only man on board who wouldfit 'The Honorable Percival Hascombe and Valet. '"

Percival found her scoffing tone intolerable. He descended two moresteps, but she stopped him with a request. 

"If you don't mind, " she said, flinging the finished braid over hershoulder, "I wish you'd write your grand name on my Panama hat sometime;it's going to be a souvenir of the trip. "

With an unintelligible answer, he made his escape. His worst fears wererealized: he had given an inch; she had taken an ell. The crack in theshell of his privacy was widening alarmingly and peeping through, heshuddered at what he saw. 

IV

COUNTER-CURRENTS

Day after day the steamship _Saluria_ sailed the most amiable ofseas. So clear was the atmosphere at times that a glimpse could be hadof the planet Venus disporting herself in the heavens at high noon. Lifeon shipboard became permeated with that spirit of fellowship which isapt to make itself felt the moment the restraints of convention arelifted. Even the Honorable Percival succumbed in a measure to theinsidious charm of the long, lazy days that were punctuated only by theship's bells. 

He was still an apparently indifferent spectator of all that was goingon, but the fact that he _was_ a spectator showed that he wasrelaxing the rigid rules he had laid down for himself. The only personwho addressed him during the day was Bobby Boynton, who gave him a freeand easy greeting when they met in the morning, and then seemed toforget his existence. His fear that she would follow up the conversationbegun in the companionway was apparently groundless, for she seemedridiculously engrossed in other things. 

Among the half-dozen young people on board who were perpetuallyorganizing tournaments, dances, card-parties, and concerts, she was themost indefatigable. Not being responsible to any one for her actions, and possessing a creative imagination, she indulged in escapades thatprovided the older people with their chief topic of conversation. Hersternest critics, however, smiled as they shook their heads. 

The captain from the first had treated her very much as he treated theother passengers. The parental rôle was not a familiar one, and heshirked it. The only time that he rose to a sense of duty was when hefound her in the writing-room, her head bent over a desk. Then rumorsaid authority was bruskly asserted, letters were confiscated, and tearsflowed instead of ink. 

About the time the Honorable Percival was congratulating himself onhaving put her in her proper place, and having kept her there, hisconfidence received a shock. Coming on deck one day, he found her againseated in his steamer-chair. This time she made no pretense of rising, but obligingly made a place for him on the foot-rest. The invitation wasloftily declined. 

"I've been waiting a coon's age for you, " she said, with an audaciousupward glance. "I wanted to tell you that I've put you on the programfor a song at the concert to-morrow night. "

"Quite impossible; I shouldn't think of such a thing for a moment, "he began; then curiosity got the better of his annoyance. "But if I mayask, how on earth did you know that I sang?"

Bobby's eyes danced, and her submerged dimple came to the surface. 

"I didn't, " she said; "but they dared me to ask you, and I wouldn't takea dare, would you?"

"I am afraid I don't quite follow you, " said Percival. 

"Well, you see, " explained Bobby, "they dared me to ask you, and I didn'tmind, because I was dead sure you sang. A person ought to be able to doanything with a voice like yours. "

Percival stroked his small mustache meditatively. 

"As a matter of fact, you know, " he said in a tone from which the chillhad vanished, "I suppose an English voice is rather conspicuous amongAmericans, isn't it?"

"Yours is, " said Bobby; "that is, what I've heard of it. "

And then she was gone like a flash, leaving the Honorable Percival tocogitate upon the extraordinary manners of American girls, and a certaincleverness they at times displayed. Lady Hortense Vevay, for instance, had had four uninterrupted weeks in which to discover anything unusualin his voice, and he must confess she had been rather stupid about it. But why had that impossible young American ruined a pretty compliment byher parting shot? Did she feel that she had any claim upon him? Did sheexpect him to pay her any attention? Preposterous!

The first break in the lazy routine of the voyage came when the dimoutline of the Hawaiian Islands gradually took definite shape in theform of old Diamond Head which loomed strangely out of the water. Sea-gulls came out to meet the steamer, circling on white wings againstthe blue, and the air grew soft and fragrant with the odors of flowersand tropical fruits. 

As the _Saluria_ slowly swung into the harbor and dropped anchor, the promenade-deck was full of lively, chattering people, all arrayed inwhite, and all eager for the first glimpse of the strange land. Dozensof naked native boys were swimming about the steamer, causing generalmerriment by their dexterity in diving for coins. One saucy brown impwho had just come up with a silver piece in his mouth, caught sightof the Englishman in the crowd above, and with a shrewdness born ofexperience called out: "Hi there, English Johnny! Me no 'Merican boy;me Johnny Bull boy. Me no want dime; want shilling! Here you are!Aw right!"

The invitation met no response. The Honorable Percival greeted with calmdisdain the laugh that followed it. He was not in the least interestedin impertinent young Hawaiians. A matter of much greater importanceoccupied his attention. He had just been informed by the purser that, owing to the crowded condition of the steamer, he would be compelled toshare his stateroom with another passenger during the remainder of thevoyage. This catastrophe darkened even the tropical sun. He wasindignant with the company in San Francisco that had failed to explainthis contingency; he was angry with the purser for not being able tochange the disagreeable order of things; but most of all he was furiouswith the unknown stranger, whom in the blackness of his mood he picturedas either a fat German or a chattering American. 

So perturbed was he over this circumstance that he could not refrainfrom venting his ill humor on somebody, and his valet being unavailableat the time, he took it out upon himself. 

"No, I am not going ashore, " he said somewhat curtly to Bobby Boynton, who had organized a party with sufficient diversions to last two daysinstead of one. 

"You'd better come along, " said Bobby. "We are going to shoot up thetown of Honolulu. "

"I don't know that I should particularly care for that, " said Percival, coldly. 

She looked at him with frank curiosity. 

"Say, why don't you ever let yourself have a good time?" she asked. "Everybody else is going except the captain. He's got the gout. Sayshe's carrying his grandfather's cocktails around in his starboard toe. "

She waited for a response, but none came. 

"It's going to be awfully stupid here with everybody gone, " shepersisted. "Why won't you come?"

She was dressed in a short white serge and the Panama hat, which as yetwas innocent of autographs. It was astonishing what a difference theabsence of conflicting colors made in her appearance. 

For a moment Percival's decision wavered before those pleading tones, but the next he caught sight of Mrs. Weston and Elise evidently watchingwith amused interest the result of Bobby's bold move. 

"Another dare, as I think you call it?" he asked. "You'll have to excuseme, Miss Boynton. Sight-seeing is quite out of my line. "

He watched the gay party board the launch, Mrs. Weston, the two girls, and the college boys whose raucous voices and offhand manners had gratedupon him ever since leaving San Francisco. As the small boat got awayfrom the steamer, one white-clad figure separated itself suddenly fromthe rest, and waved a friendly hand to him. He started, then, liftinghis cap stiffly, moved away from the rail. The little minx was pretty;in fact, he acknowledged for the first time that she was distractinglypretty. But she was also presuming, and presumption was a thing he wouldpermit in no one. 

For the next few hours Percival found life not worth living. He saton the hot deck in solitary state, gloved in white chamois, with anewspaper over his white-clad knees, engaged in the forlorn hope oftrying to keep clean while the ship was coaling. Finding this animpossibility, he took refuge in the deserted-writing-room, where allthe port-holes were closed and the air as dead as that of an Egyptiantomb. 

Satirical letters home were Percival's chief diversion. In them heexpressed his unqualified disapproval of the Western Hemisphere. Theassurance that they would be read by an adoring group of femininerelatives gave wing to an imagination that was not wont to soar. Today, however, inspiration was lacking. On opening the drawer of the firstdesk he came to, he found a letter half begun which had evidently beenthrust there suddenly and forgotten. Across the top of the page waswritten:

"My darling H-----"

Percival closed the drawer hurriedly. The conjunction of the letter Hwith that particular adjective started echoes. He circled the room insearch of a desk not haunted by epistolatory ghosts. 

"Particularly asinine brand of pen!" he exclaimed in disgust. "Must havebeen used for a corkscrew!"

Corkscrews changed the current of his thought into a more pleasantchannel. But even the mild consolation thus suggested was denied him. The smoking-room was closed. He wandered disconsolately to hisstate-room and, flinging himself on the narrow sofa, stared at theceiling. Every fiber of his being shrieked for England and for therevivifying warmth of adulation. 

His mind dwelt longingly upon Hascombe Hall and the acres of parkland, moorland, and farmland that were its inheritance. Then he thoughtbitterly upon that paragon of perfection who had caused his banishment. How completely she would have filled the rôle of mistress of that noblehall! He pictured her in irreproachable toilets, pouring tea in the eastdrawing-room, and receiving her guests with the exact shade of warmththat their social positions demanded. 

As he recalled her manner of cool distinction and her polished, impersonal phrases, another feminine figure dared to flit between himand this lady of manifold merit. No sooner would he indignantly banishher image than she would come dancing back, a gay little figure, withtoo much color in her checks and too much daring in her eyes. 

"Why don't you let yourself have a good time?" she had asked, and thequestion repeated itself now with maddening insistence. Was he, who hadalways had everything, now missing something--something that otherpeople had?

When two bells sounded he reluctantly went below for lunch. The prospectof a tête-à-tête with the captain was anything but pleasant. Heunderstood about half that the officer said, and with that half heusually disagreed. His first remark was unfortunate:

"All this dirt means more washing down of the decks, I suppose. Beastlyracket it makes. Is there any earthly reason why it should always bedone at dawn?"

"Most one-sidedly, " said the captain; "it gives the sailors a chance tosee the sunrise. "

There was a short silence, then Percival asked:

"What's the name of that young South American who went ashore with yourdaughter?"

"South American?" repeated the captain. "I pass. "

"The blatant youth who sits at your left. "

"Oh, you mean Vaughn. He's no South American. He hails from Virginia. "

"Thought he said he was a Southerner. May I trouble you for themustard?"

"Did the Daughter of the Revolution go along?" asked the captain. 

"Beg pardon?"

"Mrs. Weston. She's a D. A. R. She has told me so five times; that's howI know. "

"Really, why was she chosen to be the Daughter of the Regiment?"

"The Revolution, not the regiment. You remember that little skirmishthat took place in '75?"

Percival considered this thrust beneath his notice. His simmeringantagonism for the captain was nearing the boiling-point. 

"I say, " he said, "will you kindly arrange for a bit of air to enterthis room? It's ghastly, perfectly ghastly. "

"Sure, " said the captain, dexterously mixing a salad of alligator pears. "Ah Foo, open some of those ports and let in the coal-dust. Have some ofthis tropical mess?"

"Thanks, no. I'm not specially fit today. Had a beastly night of it. Fancy having to keep one's umbrella up in the berth to keep the lightfrom the passage out of one's eyes! I don't believe such a thing couldhappen on a British steamer. Can't you manage to give me anotherstate-room?"

"That's the purser's job; he's the room-clerk, " said the captain. "I'monly the skipper. "

Percival glanced quickly at the weather-beaten face, but found noguiding expression. 

"I can't say I found your purser over-civil, " he went on. "He insists onputting another passenger in my state-room. Nothing was said about it inSan Francisco, nothing whatever. I shall report the matter at my firstopportunity. "

"I bet you've drawn that Chinese bigwig that's booked from here, " saidthe captain, grinning. 

Percival pushed back his plate. A German or an American had appalledhim, but a Chinaman!

"I say, this is a bit thick, you know. What time does the next launch goashore?" he demanded, with, a fierce determination to find the purserand demand satisfaction. 

"About to start now, " said the captain, adding, with a twinkle: "Betterthink twice about that Chinaman. If he takes the upper berth, hisqueue'd come in mighty handy to hang your umbrella on. "

Percival dashed up the stairs. He had been seeking an excuse for goingashore for the last four hours, and now he felt that he had one. It wasof the utmost importance, he assured himself, that he see the purserwithout further delay. 

V

STRANDED

When a man insists too strenuously upon his rights, the imps ofperversity invariably combine to thwart him. Percival was aware of theirpursuing footsteps from the moment he went ashore and lost his umbrella, to the hour of his return to the dock, when he found himself face toface with a situation of baffling perplexity. 

No sooner had he stepped from the launch that had started him on hisdouble quest, which ostensibly had only the purser for its object, thanhe was surrounded by a noisy, gesticulating crowd. Insistent requeststhat he should buy a string of shells, adopt a chameleon, wear a wreathof carnations, and take a drive, were proffered in broken English, andhe made his escape by jumping into a motor-car and slamming the door. 

"Where to, sir?" asked the gratified chauffeur. 

"Take me where everybody goes, " directed Percival. 

"The Pali? Waikiki? Punch-Bowl? Aquarium?"

"Yes, yes. Go on. You see, as a matter of fact, I'm looking for someone. "

Percival's first impression of Honolulu was that of a futurist sketch, a streak of green standing for the palm-shaded streets, a streak ofscarlet representing the royal Poinciana, and various impressionisticdots indicating native Hawaiians. The motor in which he found himselfwas very ancient, having evidently traveled from the center to thecircumference of civilization by easy stages. Its age and asthmaticcondition should have made it an object of veneration to the chauffeur, but such was not the case. Like a belated express, it was driventhrough the town and out into the open country. Luxurious villas, junglesof cacti, Chinese tea-houses, taro patches, banana plantations--allpresented one mad panorama to Percival, who jolted from side to sideon the back seat. 

Presently there was a precipitous halt, and the chauffeur indicated thathe was to get out. 

"What for?" asked Percival, crossly. 

"The Pali, " said the chauffeur, impressively. "Eighteen hundred feetabove the level of the sea, where the early inhabitants of Oahu madetheir last stand against the enemy. "

"I'm quite sure she isn't here, " said Percival. Then he caught himself, and went into a rather elaborate explanation to cover his confusion. "You see, I'm looking for the purser. The purser of the _Saluria_, you know. He's put a nasty Chinaman in my state-room, and I've got tofind him before the ship sails. "

"Everybody comes first to the Pali, " said the man. 

Percival glanced skeptically at the great granite cliff that seemed suchan unpromising retreat for pursers, then he stepped out of the motor, and made his way around the sharp angle of stone wall. As he did so, agale struck him that sent his hat careening over the precipice. He gazedafter it in chagrin. The fact that one of the great panoramic views ofthe world lay at his feet was quite obliterated by the unhappy knowledgethat an English Bowler had landed in the fork of a distant tree, defyingrecovery. 

"Where next, sir?" asked the chauffeur, surprised at his quick return. 

"Anywhere out of this damned wind!" said Percival between his teeth. 

"Your friend might be at Waikiki Beach, " suggested the chauffeur, amiably. 

"He's _not_ my friend. He's a purser, I tell you. Wants to put--"

But his words were lost in the whir of the engine. All the way back toHonolulu and through the town Percival was seeing this strange, tropicalland through the blue eyes of a certain little untraveled Westernsavage. What a revelation it must be to one used to the barren alkalideserts of Wyoming, where, nothing grew but sage-bush and cacti! Itwouldn't be half bad, he thought, to hear what she had to say about itall. But where was one to look for her?

"We might try the pool-rooms, " suggested the chauffeur. 

Percival looked at him blankly, then he remembered. 

"Take me to a hat shop, " he said peremptorily. 

When they arrived at Waikiki Beach he got out of the motor with morealacrity than was habitual to him, and entered the cocoanut-grove. ByJove! he thought, it was not a bad sight to see the palms dangling overthe beach like that, with the jolly breakers rolling in, and the bayfull of changing colors. Coral reefs! That's what caused the color; hehad read it in a book somewhere. Air was good, too, fruity and salty andnot too hot. For the moment he forgot his cares; he even forgot that hisnew hat was one of those peculiar shapes which Englishmen often poreover in the advertising pages of American magazines for the sole purposeof enjoying a sense of superb and vast superiority. 

As he scanned the beach his eye was caught by three ladies and threenatives standing about a surf-boat in animated discussion. The youngestof the ladies, who wore a bathing-suit of conspicuous hue and did mostof the talking, suddenly detached herself from the others and cameflying across the sand toward him. 

"Mr. Hascombe!" she demanded breathlessly, "you'll take me out in thesurf-boat, won't you? The boys haven't come, and Mrs. Weston is afraidfor me to go alone. "

[Illustration: "Mr. Hascombe!" she demanded breathlessly, "you'll takeme out in the surf boat, won't you?"]

"But my dear young lady, it's quite impossible. I'm looking for thepurser. They say he's going to put--"

"Bother the purser! We haven't a minute to lose. The steamer sails atfive. "

"But really, I can't. And I quite agree with Mrs. Weston that it wouldbe most awfully improper for you to go alone. "

"Well, if you don't take me, I _will_ go alone!" she said defiantly;then she suddenly changed her tactics, and added with childish insistence:"But you _are_ going to take me now, aren't you? Please?"

He could scarcely believe his senses when, a few minutes later, he foundhimself frantically struggling into a rented bathing-suit in a steaminglittle bath-house that gave evidence of recent use. But a glance intothe mirror that hung on the door not only convinced him of his identity, but added the comforting assurance that he was not by any means lookinghis worst in his present garb. He paused long enough to flex apresentable bicep with pardonable pride. 

"Hurry up!" called Bobby, joyfully, as he emerged. "There are threeKanakas and you and I. Can you swim?"

"Rather, " said Percival. 

They ran down to the beach to where the canoe, a long, narrow affairwith curious outriders, awaited them. 

"The last boat that went out capsized, " cried Bobby, gleefully takingher place behind the second Kanaka. "The men were in the water fiveminutes, but the sharks didn't happen to notice them. "

"Sharks!" exclaimed Percival in consternation. 

The native in the front seat grinned and shook his head. 

"No sharks this side of the reef, " he said reassuringly. 

As they paddled out over the blue water, Bobby's enthusiasm dashed likespray against the rock of Percival's seeming indifference. 

"Isn't this the most heavenly place that ever happened!" she cried. "Look at the mountains back yonder against the sky, and the mists in thevalleys, and all the color spilling out over the edge of the land intothe sea!"

"Ye-es, " said Percival; "but as a matter of fact I find the mosquitospeculiarly trying. "

Now, if the truth must be told, it was not the mosquitos which weredisturbing the Honorable Percival. It was not even his failure to findthe purser. It was the disconcerting discovery that this persistentyoung woman from the States was making him do things he didn't in theleast want to do. He glared gloomily at the back of her white neck, across which a dark lock floated tantalizingly. 

As the space between them and the shore widened, the surf becamestronger and higher, until by the time they reached the reef the canoewas dancing like a shell on the water. 

"Afraid?" asked Bobby, teasingly, flashing a smile over her shoulder. 

"I don't think, " said Percival, and, immediately was chagrined at havingindulged in such a vulgar expression. 

"I love it!" cried Bobby. "It's more fun than a bucking bronco. Is thisour wave? All right! Let her go!"

The Kanaka in the prow gave the signal, and the boat backed into themonster wave just as it was about to break. Simultaneously the paddleswere plunged into the water, and a vigorous pull was made for the shore. There was a merry whiz of rushing waters, a breathless suspension inmidair, then a gigantic upheaval as the boat plunged over the crest ofthe wave and shot like an arrow two miles in two minutes to the beach. 

Percival, as has been stated, rather prided himself on having exhaustedlife's thrills. When one has made a reputation for luging at Caux andhas raced on skis with the professionals at St. Moritz, not to boast ofa daring flight in a French aëroplane, one is apt to be rather superiorto minor sports. But the present thrilling diversion, shared with a girlas irresistibly pretty and as utterly abandoned to the joy of the momentas Bobby Boynton, proved quite the most exhilarating pastime in which hehad ever indulged. 

Again and again the boat went out, and again and again Mrs. Westonbeckoned frantically and imperatively from the pier. The last time shelooked at her watch, she seemed to give up the hope of getting thedelinquents back to shore. Gathering up scarfs and parasols, she andElise hurried back to the steamer. 

For the two young people in the boat the steamer had ceased to exist. Everything had ceased to exist except a narrow shell of wood, threebrown-backed natives, and one towering wave after another that shotthem through delicious realms of space and left them, with every nervea-tingle, laughing into each other's eyes. 

"Ripping, isn't it?" cried Percival on the third return. "Shall we haveone more go?"

"I expect we ought to be going, " said Bobby, shaking the salt spray outof her hair. "I don't see anything of Mrs. Weston and Elise. "

"I don't want to see anything of them, " cried Percival, recklessly. "Right ho! once more!"

She was nothing loath, and they went blithely forth to meet the next bigwave. 

"Mrs. Weston _has_ gone!" said Bobby when they again touched shore. "Wouldn't it be a lark if we were left?"

No bullet ever brought a soaring bird to ground more promptly than thisremark brought the Honorable Percival to his senses. 

"Gad!" he cried, "but it's impossible! My luggage is all on board!"

He scrambled frantically out of the boat and rushed to his bath-house. The prospect of being stranded, on even a fairy island, with adangerously beguiling maiden of the middle class was even more appallingthan being divorced from his luggage. He struggled frantically into hisclothes, losing three precious minutes over a broken shoe-lace. When hecame out he found Bobby, very cool and collected, sipping an iced drinkat the pavilion. Not waiting for her to finish, he rushed her into thewaiting motor and implored the chauffeur to get them to the dock withall possible speed. 

He was aghast at his own folly. It was incredible that he should haveallowed himself to drift into such an awkward situation. They might notbe missed until after the steamer sailed, in which case it was quitepossible that the erratic captain would refuse to put back. The manmight even make capital of the incident and claim that his daughter wascompromised. What if he should demand satisfaction? What satisfactionwould be due in the circumstances? Percival felt the hot blood rush tohis head. 

"Can't you speed her up a bit?" he urged, his elbows on the front seatand his eyes on the small watch encased in the leather strap about hiswrist. 

"Yes, do!" cried Bobby, excitedly. "I love to go fast!"

"Do you realize, " asked Percival, assuming his sternest manner in orderto impress her with the gravity of the situation, "that we stand a verygood chance of being left?"

"I can't imagine a nicer place to be left in, " said Bobby, addingbetween bounces, "besides, you needn't--look so cross--at me. It is allyour--own fault. "

The chauffeur at this point felt it incumbent upon him to avert aquarrel, so he offered the cheering assurance that it was only fourforty-five, and he could get most anywhere in fifteen minutes. But evenas he spoke there was an ominous report, followed by the unmistakablesound of escaping air. 

"Oh, I say!" cried Percival in tones of horror, "not a puncture?"

"That's whut!" said the chauffeur, who had jammed on the brakes, and wasnow ruefully inspecting a back wheel. 

"Can't stop for that!" cried Percival, impatiently. "Every secondcounts, my man. Doesn't matter how much we bounce so long as we getthere. "

"But I ain't goin' to ruin my tire. "

"What the deuce do I care about your confounded old tire? I'll pay forit. I'll pay you anything you ask if you get me to the dock on time. "

But after bumping furiously from cobblestone to cobblestone, thechauffeur rebelled and positively declined to go farther until the tirewas changed. 

"Then it's up to us to catch a streetcar!" cried Bobby, "What luck! Herecomes one now. They only run once a week. "

"Street-car? Oh, you mean a tram. To be sure! Hadn't thought of it. Shall we run for it?"

Thrusting a gold piece into the hand of the chauffeur, he made afifty-yard dash for the corner that did credit to his early training. But the imperious signal with which he hailed the car was not heeded. Instead, a fat conductor leaned from the rear platform and obliginglyvolunteered the information that he was on the wrong corner. 

"Intolerable insolence!" muttered Percival to Bobby, who had just comeup. "What are you laughing at?"

"At your face when the car went by. Here comes a wagon. Quick! Ask theman if he can't take us the rest of the way. "

"But we can't ride in a--"

"Yes, we can. We can ride on a broom-stick if we have to. Hurry!"

Percival plunged obediently into the street and made his request. He wasmeeting with little encouragement from the driver, who evidently thoughthe was mentally unsound, when Bobby came to his rescue. It was only byresorting to some of those feminine tricks of persuasion which thesuffragists assure us are quite immoral that she succeeded in carryingher point. 

Ten minutes later the curiosity of the main thoroughfare of Honoluluwas raised to fever-heat by the singular spectacle of an austere anddistinguished-looking Englishman and a pretty, if somewhat disheveled, young girl dangling their feet from the end of a dilapidated wagon thatwas being driven at a breakneck speed toward the wharf. 

[Illustration: At a breakneck speed towards the wharf]

For once in his life Percival was indifferent to appearances. Everythingelse sank into insignificance beside the one supreme necessity ofcatching that steamer. There would not be another sailing for the Orientfor ten days. The prospect of ten days in this lotus-land alone with aperilously pretty girl who had evidently taken an enormous fancy to himfilled him with alarm. What possible explanation could he offer toSister Cordelia, that august representative of the family waiting inHong-Kong to minister to his broken and bleeding heart?

A violent lurch of the wagon caused him to grasp Bobby's arm to steadyher, and as he did so she got a glimpse of his rueful countenance. 

"Cheer up!" she cried. "There's no use looking like that even if we_are_ left. "

"Like what?"

"Like a trout on a hook. "

He shot a glance at her. Was it possible that she had divined his stateof mind? Woman's intuition was a thing of which he stood in deadly awe. 

But they were arriving at the dock, and there was no time to indulge insubtleties. He sprang from the wagon before it came to a halt. 

"The _Saluria!_" he demanded wildly of a man in uniform. "Has shesailed?"

"The _Saluria?_" repeated the man with maddening deliberation. "Let's see. Yellow funnels, ain't she? Yep, that's her a-going out ofthe harbor now. "

VI

IN THE WIND-SHELTER

When Mrs. Western, anxiously watching the passengers come aboard fromthe last launch, had failed to see Bobby Boynton, she was partlyreassured by young Vaughn, who was quite confident he had seen her onthe dock. Not being satisfied, however, she made a tour of the crowdeddecks, looking into the music room, the writing-room and even thesmoking-room, It was not until she went below and peeped into Bobby'sempty cabin that she became seriously alarmed. Hurrying back on deck, she found, to her consternation, that the gang-planks had been liftedand the ship had weighed anchor. In great excitement she rushed to thebridge to find the captain, but he was not there. Five interminableminutes had been lost before she found him and stated her case. 

The captain of an ocean-liner is too used to false alarms to be easilyexcited, and it was only after another thorough search was made, and notrace of Bobby and the Englishman found, that Captain Boynton concernedhimself. Just what he said need not be chronicled. It was extremelycrude and extremely personal, and punctuated by phrases that would haveshocked the delicate sensibilities of the Honorable Percival. 

His humor was not improved by the dictatorial messages that began toarrive by wireless:

 Have chartered launch. Hold steamer, HASCOMBE. 

 Distance too great for launch. Meet us halfway. 

 HASCOMBE. 

 Have started, Meet us. 

 HASCOMBE. 

The exciting news that somebody was left soon traveled from deck todeck, and when the steamer began slowly and laboriously to come about, the railing's were crowded with passengers. Presently a small darkobject was visible in the distance, rising and falling unsteadily on thewaves that lay between the steamer and the dim shore-line. Gradually thelaunch came nearer, and with some difficulty succeeded in gettingalongside. 

A cheer of welcome went up as Bobby and Percival scrambled up theship's-ladder. Their hats were adorned with trailing wreaths of smilax, and about their shoulders were garlands of carnations. It was a stageentrance, sufficiently conspicuous and effective to have satisfied thesoul of the most exacting manager. 

Percival's abhorrence of publicity, which had been overshadowed by hisanxiety, now took complete possession of him. With punctilious formalityhe handed Bobby on deck, then, with a manner sufficiently forbidding todiscourage all questions and remarks, pushed his way haughtily throughthe laughing crowd and went below. 

It was not until he entered his state-room that he recalled thegrievance that ostensibly had sent him ashore. In the middle of hisberth was an open suitcase, with its contents widely distributed. Threepairs of shoes lay in the middle of the floor, a bunch of variegatedneckties depended from the door-knob, and a stack of American magazinesand newspapers lay upon the sofa, Percival stood on the thresholdsniffing. There was no mistaking the odor. It was white rose, a perfumeforever associated with the perfidious Lady Hortense! Was he to sufferthis refinement of cruelty in having the very air he breathed saturatedwith her memory? He rang furiously for his valet. 

"Judson, see that that person's things are put upon his side of the roomand kept there, and under no condition allow the port-holes to beclosed. "

"Very good, sir. Will you dress now for dinner!"

But Percival was in no mood for the long table d'hôte dinner, with itsinevitable comments upon the affair of the afternoon. He preferred asandwich and a glass of wine in a secluded corner of the smoking-room, after which he played a few games of solitaire, then betook himselfto bed. His sleep was not a restful one, being haunted by departingsteamers, arriving Chinamen, and an endless procession of scornfulLady Hortenses. 

He was awakened the next morning long before his accustomed time by someone stirring noisily about the state-room. After lying in indignantsilence for a while behind his drawn curtains, he touched the electricbell. When Judson's respectful knock responded, he said in tones of icyformality:

"Judson, tell the steward to draw my tub. "

"I say, " broke in a voice on the outer side of the curtain, "while youare drawing things, I wish you'd try your hand at this cork. "

There was a brief parley at the door, and a "Very good, sir, " fromJudson. 

Percival's anger rose. It was bad enough to share his room with astranger, but to share his valet as well was out of the question. Whena second tap announced that his bath was ready, he slipped a long robeover his silk pajamas and emerged imperiously from his berth. It is noteasy to maintain a haughty dignity in a bath-robe, with one's hair onend, but Percival came very near it. 

The effort was wasted, however, for a cheerful "Good morning, Partner, "greeted him, and his cold eye discerned not a slant-eyed Oriental, but around, pink American face, partly covered with lather, beaming upon him. 

"My name is Black, " continued the new-comer--"Andy Black. And yours?"

"Hascombe, " said Percival, haughtily aware of all that that name stoodfor in the annals of southern England. 

"Oh, you're the fellow that got left! Any kin to the Texas Hascombes?"asked the youth, drawing the razor over his upper lip as if there werereal work for it to do. 

"None whatever, " said Percival. "I'll trouble you for my sponge-bag. "

When Percival got down to breakfast he found that the enforced proximityof Mr. Andy Black was not to be confined to the state-room. The plump, red-headed young man, with the complexion of a baby and a smile thatimpartially embraced the universe, was seated at his elbow. 

"Who is the girl at the captain's right?" he demanded eagerly asPercival took his seat. 

"His daughter, " Percival said curtly, painfully aware of the amusedglances that had followed his entrance. 

"Some looker!" said Andy. "I see my finish right now. "

The sight of it eventually pleased him, for he turned his back uponPercival, and became hilariously appreciative of the captain's jokes, even contributing one or two of his own. Before the meal was over hehad informed the whole table that he was on his way to Hong-Kong inthe interests of the Union Tobacco Company, that he had done businessin every State in the Union, and that he had crossed the Pacific fivetimes. 

During the course of the day Percival visited the purser at regularintervals, demanding that his room-mate be removed. But the purserwas a sturdy Hamburger, and the very sight of a monocle affected hisdisposition. Meanwhile Mr. Andy Black had made good use of his time. At the end of twenty-four hours he had spoken to virtually everybodyon board, including the gray-haired old missionary who passedcream-peppermints about the deck at a quarter to ten every morning. Hehad played quoits with Elise Weston, punched the bag with the collegeboys, and taught Bobby Boynton to dance the tango. So obnoxious wasthe sight of him to the Honorable Percival that he turned his chairto the wall and buried himself in "Guillim's Display of Heraldry. " Heconsidered it as a personal affront on the part of Fate that just as hewas beginning to find the voyage endurable this prancing young montebankshould appear to spoil everything. 

For the next two days he sternly avoided Bobby Boynton. His somewhatpompous letter of apology to the captain, in which he set forth atlength the various unforeseen accidents that had caused him to miss thesteamer, was curtly and ungraciously received, and strained relationsensued. Moreover, as he viewed the recent adventure in retrospect, hedecided that he had been most negligent in observing those rules bywhich the conduct of an English gentleman should be regulated. Incondescending to be amused he had gone too far, and it was now incumbentupon him to nip in the bud any gossip that might have risen concerninghis attentions to the daughter of that odious captain. 

Bobby survived the withdrawal of his favor with amazing indifference. What puzzled and annoyed him beyond measure was that the more obliviousof him she seemed, the more acutely aware of her he became. Twenty timesa day he assured himself that it made no earthly difference to himwhether she was playing quoits with the Scotchman or bean-bag with AndyBlack, and yet not a page of his book would become intelligible until hemade a round of the deck to find out what she was doing. The eveningswere even worse: midnight often found him wrapped in his rug in hissteamer-chair or morosely pacing the deck, waiting for some festivityin which Bobby was engaged to come to an end. The shocking lack ofchaperonage and the liberty allowed young girls in the States servedas themes for more than one bitter letter home. 

But his cold aloofness was not destined to last. One morning when mostof the passengers were concerned with the appearance of Bird Island onthe horizon, he stumbled quite by accident upon Bobby curled up behind awind-shelter on the other side of the deck, contributing some large salttears to the brine of the ocean. Now, in that circle of society in whichit had pleased Providence to place Percival it was considered the heightof bad form to exhibit an emotion. His imagination could not picture oneof the ladies of Hascombe Hall sitting in a public place with her hairtumbled over her face, and her shoulders shaking with sobs. 

Nevertheless, the sight of this hitherto buoyant young creature indistress moved him to sit down beside her, and in the softly modulatedtones upon which we have already commented coax her to tell him what wasthe matter. 

Unlike the historic Miss Muffet who repulsed a similar attention fromthe spider, she welcomed his arrival. She even asked him if he had anextra handkerchief, her own having been reduced to a wet little ball. He had. He not only proffered it, but helped to wipe away the tears. 

[Illustration: "I don't know what makes me so everlastingly silly!"she said fiercely trying to swallow the rising sobs, "but he won'tunderstand!"]

"I don't know what makes me so everlastingly silly, " she said fiercely, trying to swallow the rising sobs, "but he _won't_ understand!"

"Who won't?"

"The captain. I don't care if he is my father. Sometimes I don't likehim a bit. "

Neither did Percival. It was strange how the common antagonism drewthem together. He was about to ask for further details when the oldPeppermint Lady scurried past and, seeing them, turned back to impartthe burning news that Bird Island was in sight. 

"Yes, " said Percival, shamelessly, "we have seen it. "

"He doesn't know me if he thinks I'll give in, " went on Bobby where shehad left off. "I am just as stubborn as he is. "

"There, now, I shouldn't talk about it if it made me cry, " advisedPercival, patting her shoulder. 

"But I've got to talk to somebody, " she said almost savagely. "What didhe give me to the Fords for if he didn't think they were good enough?Pa Joe's as good as he is any day in the week. "

"Who is Pa Joe?" asked Percival, groping in the dark. 

"He's the darlingest old man in the world, and he owns the best cattleranch in Wyoming. Anybody'll tell you so. He's been a real father to me, and the boys are real brothers--at least three of them are. They arejust as good as anybody that ever lived, I don't care what the captainsays. "

There was another passionate burst of tears, and Percival had justsucceeded in stemming the tide when the Scotchman bore down upon them. 

"I beg your pardon, but did you know we were passing Bird Island?" heasked them. 

"Yes, " said Percival, hastily getting up and piloting him safely past. "As a matter of fact, some one was just asking for you in thesmoking-room. "

"I told the captain, " sobbed Bobby, beating her hands together andapparently oblivious of interruptions, "that I'd come on this trip withhim, but that it wouldn't make a bit of difference, and it hasn't. "

"No, of course it hasn't, " agreed Percival, soothingly, not in the leastcomprehending the drift of her remarks, but pleasantly aware that he wasbeing confided in and that something very limp and lovely was under hisprotection. 

"Isn't there a--a--Mrs. Ford on the ranch?" he asked by way ofprolonging the interview. 

"Not now. Dear Aunt Kitty died four years ago. That was when they sentme in to Cheyenne to school. But I'm finished now, and I'm going to stayon the ranch and take care of Pa Joe and the boys. "

"Can't say it sounds exciting. How many children are there?"

"Children! Why, they are all as tall as you are, except Piffles. There'sTed, and Dick, and Piffles, and--Hal. I guess you saw Hal that day atthe station. "

For the first time since he had known her, her black lashes droopedconsciously over her blue eyes. They were very long and thick lashes, and as they swept her flushed cheek, Percival not only forgot what shewas saying, but went so far as to forget himself. 

"I saw only one thing that day at the station, " he said, with such anardent look that it made Bobby smile through her tears. As a rule hedisliked dimples, especially the stationary kind. But the one that nowoccupied, his attention was a very shy and elusive affair that kept thebeholder watching very closely for fear he should miss it. 

"Come, " he said, taking advantage of the momentary sunshine, "you are abit of a sportsman, you know. You mustn't come off by yourself and crylike this. Makes you feel so beastly seedy afterward, doesn't it?"

"Yes. But you don't understand. I want to do something that thecaptain's perfectly determined I sha'n't do. He didn't bring me on thistrip just to give me a good time. Not on your life! He brought me tomake me forget. "

"Oh, that's the game, is it? Scuttling you off to sea to make youforget. Deuced interesting! I don't mind telling you I'm in something ofthe same sort of a hole myself. "

"Really?" Her interest was roused instantly. 

A mysterious change was taking place in their acquaintance. Bobby'stears had in some unaccountable manner taken all the starch out ofPercival's manner. 

"You mean, " she went on, "that they are sending you off to keep you frommarrying some one they don't like?"

"Not exactly. I shouldn't put up with that for a moment, you know. "

"Of course you wouldn't, because you are a man. But suppose you werea girl, and your father was perfectly unreasonable. What would you dothen?"

"I'd drop the matter for a bit, " advised Percival, at a venture. "Lethim think you didn't care a tuppeny. Pretend to be awfully keen aboutsomething else, and, likely as not, he'll come round. Not a bad ideathat, by Jove! I've tried it. "

"Do you think it would work?" asked Bobby, scanning his finely chiseledprofile as eagerly as if she were consulting the Delphic oracle. 

"No harm in trying. Keep him on tenter-hooks, at any rate. "

"Ship ahoy!" came in joyous tones from Andy Black as he rounded thecorner of the saloon, clinging to his cap. "Been looking for you allover. Say, did you all know we were passing Bird Island?"

"If we don't, " said Percival, with his most deliberate stare, "it is notbecause we have failed to be informed of the uninteresting fact everyfive minutes for the last half-hour. "

"Consider me the third stanza, " said Andy; "please omit me!"

Bobby laughed as he disappeared, and pushed back her tumbled hair. 

"I love to hear you say 'hawf, '" she said; then she added impetuously, "You aren't a bit like anybody I ever saw before. "

"I dare say, " said Percival, returning her smile. 

"Not only your talk, but your walk, and the way you wear your clothes. "

"I suppose my tailor does rather understand my figure, " said Percival;"but what puzzles you about my speech?"

"I don't know. It's different. And then I never can tell what you arethinking about. "

"Do you wish to know what I'm thinking about just now?"

"Yes. "

"I am wondering why you wear high-heeled, gold-beaded slippers in themorning. "

Bobby thrust forth two dainty feet and contemplated them in surprise. 

"What's wrong with them?" she asked. 

"Rather dressy for the morning, aren't they?" he gently suggested. 

"I don't know, " she said good-humoredly. "I've got a trunkful of clothesdown in my state-room, but I never know which ones to put on. You see, we never dike up like this on the ranch. When the captain brought me toSan Francisco, he handed me over to a woman at the hotel and told her torig me out for the trip. "

"Did--did she buy your steamer-coat?" asked Percival. 

Bobby's laugh rang out contagiously. 

"Isn't it a tulip? I knew it was wrong the minute I came on board andsaw Elise Weston's. Honest, now, have I got anything else as bad asthat?"

"No, oh, no; I was a beastly cad to mention it. You are most awfullycharming in anything you choose to wear. But as a matter of fact, I dolike you best in white, with your hair low, as it is now. "

"Hair low, shoes high, all in white. Anything else you'd like?" Alltrace of tears had vanished, and her eyes were dancing audaciously. 

"Yes, " said Percival, leaning forward, "there is. "

At this critical juncture a well-built figure in a uniform started downthe stairway above them, paused a moment unobserved, then quietlyretraced his steps to the bridge. 

"See here, I must be going, " said Bobby, rising abruptly. "I promised topractise for the tableaux at ten, and it's half-past now. Say, you werea brick to brace me up! I'm going to take your advice, too; you see ifI don't. May I count on your help!"

"At your service, " said Percival, rising, and clasping the hand she heldout. 

The captain's Chinese boy glided up unobserved and stood at attention. 

"Captain say missy please come top-side right away. Wantchee see BirdIsland. "

Percival, still holding her hand, smilingly shook his head. 

"Damn Bird Island!" he murmured softly. 

VII

THE DAY THAT NEVER WAS

Of all the places in the world where a flirtation can germinate, blossom, and bear fruit overnight, an ocean-liner is the most propitious. Twoconventional human beings who in the city streets would pass each otherwith utter indifference will often drop a conscious lid over a welcomingeye when passing and repassing on the deck of a steamer. When men andwomen are set adrift for four weeks, with thousands of miles ofsparkling water separating them from the past and the present, and withnothing to do but observe one another, something usually happens. 

The present voyage of the _Saluria_ was no exception; in fact, itthreatened to break all former records. The love-epidemic started inthe steerage, where a Dutch boy en route to Java developed a burningattachment for a young stewardess, and it extended to the bridge, whereCaptain Boynton frequently consigned his duties to the first officerin order to devote his energies to holding Mrs. Weston's worsted. Whenhe was not holding the skein, he was holding the ball, and duringthe endless process of winding and unwinding he spun his own yarns, recalling tales of wild adventure that alternately shocked andfascinated his gentle listener. 

The young people, meanwhile, were not by any means immune. Elise Westonhad discovered that the Scotchman's voice blended perfectly with herown, and through endless practising of "Tales from Hoffman" they hadarrived at a harmony that promised to be permanent. Andy Black and BobbyBoynton romped through the days, apparently wasting little time onsentiment, but developing a friendship that might at any time becomeserious. 

Only the blighted being wandered the decks alone. Since that morning inthe wind-shelter he had decided to take no more risks. Alarming symptomshad not been wanting to indicate the return of a malady from which henever expected to suffer again. The grand affair with the Lady Hortensehad been a dignified, chronic ailment which he had learned to endurewith a becoming air of pensive resignation. The present attackthreatened to be of a much more disturbing character. It was acute;it responded to no treatment, mental, moral, or physical. It was liketoothache or mumps or chicken-pox, an ignoble, complaint of which oneis ashamed, but before which one is helpless. 

It was only at table that he found it impossible to maintain towardBobby that attitude of indifference which he had prescribed for himself. With the arrival of the new passengers at Honolulu the places had beenslightly changed, and now that he found himself seated between Bobby andAndy Black, the temptation to turn his chair slightly toward the former, thus presenting an insolent and forbidding back to Andy, was more thanhe could resist. Moreover, it afforded him unlimited satisfaction toknow that by the glance of his eye or a whispered half-phrase he couldinstantly center all her sparkling attention upon himself. 

The captain viewed these elusive tête-à-têtes with growing disfavor. Onemorning when he was alone at breakfast with Mrs. Weston he unburdenedhis mind after his own peculiar fashion. 

"A seaman has to cultivate three things, my lady, a Nelson eye, a Nelsonear, and a Nelson nose. I've got 'em all. "

Mrs. Weston smiled with, flattering expectancy. 

"I don't claim to know what's going on in the rest of the world, " hecontinued significantly, "but you can back your Uncle Ik to knoweverything that's happening on board this wagon. "

"What's happening now? Do tell me, " said Mrs. Weston, leaning forwardand almost upsetting the salt in her eagerness. 

"An Englishman, a poisonously funny Englishman, is running out of hiscourse. He'll hit a reef before long that will knock a hole in hishull. "

"Oh, you mean the Honorable Percival?"

"I do. And if he's like the majority of those titled Johnnies, he's socrooked he can hide behind a corkscrew. "

"O Captain, that's absurd! Why, he is one of the most absolutelyirreproachable and unapproachable young aristocrats I ever saw. "

"That's all right. I don't tie up to the British aristocracy, nor anyother foreign nobility. Besides, what headway will I make by steeringthat girl of mine off one shoal to land her on another?"

"Was the Wyoming affair quite out of the question?"

"Oh, Hal Ford is a good-enough chap, but he's a perfect kid. They areboth too young to know what they want. Besides, I am not going to haveher drop anchor on a ranch for the rest of her days. I'll send her up to'Frisco to school first. That's what the row was about before she lefthome. The little minx defied me, so I picked her up and brought her withme out to Hong-Kong. "

"Poor child! She probably sees now that you were quite right. "

"Maybe she does and maybe she doesn't. She's a wily little scamp allright. I discovered that the second day out. I'd forbidden her to writeany letters to the ranch, so she was keeping a log-book which she wasgoing to mail at every port. "

"And were you hard-hearted enough to confiscate it?"

"I was. At least I ordered her to give it to me on the spot, and shesaid she'd chuck it overboard first. "

"And did she!"

"She did, " said the captain, with a grim chuckle. 

"You don't understand that girl, " said Mrs. Weston. "I'm quite sureshe'd be amenable if she were handled right. However, she doesn't seemto be breaking her heart. Between Andy and the Honorable she's findingconsolation. "

"Most women do, " said the captain, with one of those flashes ofbitterness that sent all the good humor scurrying out of his face. 

"Of course, she's just playing with Andy, " Mrs. Weston hurried on, fearful of the memories she had stirred; "but Mr. Hascombe is different. He is so good-looking and so polished, almost any girl would have herhead turned a bit by his attentions. "

"You don't mean to say that you think Bobby--"

"I can't quite make out. She doesn't seem to see much of him on deck, but at the table she hasn't eyes or ears for any one else. You watchher. "

"Trust my Nelson eye!" said the captain. 

When Antipodal Day arrived, every one felt called upon to celebrate it. The guileless tried to see the imaginary line of the meridian which thesophisticated pointed out to them on the water; the cream-peppermintlady went so far as to say she felt the jar as the steamer passed overit. Conjectures, witty, mathematical, or inane, were made as to theidentity of to-day, if yesterday was Friday and to-morrow going to beSaturday. 

During the morning Percival wandered disconsolately from one part of theship to another. Despite the fact that he was quite determined to keepaway from Bobby, he chafed under her seeming indifference. After thatintimate hour together in the wind-shelter it was strange that she couldbe so oblivious of his presence. It was distasteful to him to have tosignal the train of her attention. To be sure, a very little signalserved, --a word, a look, a thoughtful gesture, --but he preferred ahomage that required no prompting. Moreover, she was guilty of "smilingon all she looked upon, " and her acceptance of Andy Black into theever-widening circle of her admirers offended him deeply. 

The day dragged interminably. By five o'clock in the afternoon atango-tea was in progress, and it seemed to Percival that everybody onboard was dancing except the missionaries and himself. Even they weretaking part as spectators, having secured their places half an hourbefore the appointed time in order not to miss a moment of the shockingexhibition. 

Percival went to the upper deck and sought the most secluded corner hecould find, but even there he was haunted by the soul-disturbing music. Dancing was one of his accomplishments, and he had trod stately measuresthrough half a dozen London seasons, the admiration and the despairof more than one aspiring mama. He looked with great disapproval uponthese new and boisterous American dances, he wondered if they were asdifficult as they looked. Seeing nobody about, he rose and tentativelytried a few steps behind the shelter of a life-boat. He found itinteresting, and was getting quite pleased over his cleverness incatching the syncopated time, when he spied an impertinent sailorgrinning at him from the rigging. Instantly his legs became rigid, andhe affected an interest in the horizon intended to convince the sailorthat he had been the victim of an optical illusion. Of course it wasquite beneath his dignity to take part in these rollicking dances, especially in such a public place as on shipboard. He realized thatfully; yet he thought of Bobby and sighed. There were actually times inhis life when he almost wished he had been born in the middle class. 

Then he drew himself up sharply. If there was one thing incumbent uponthe second son of the late Lord Westenhanger, it was that he maintainhis position. Though grievously disappointed in his failure to capturethe incomparable Lady Hortense, he must don his armor and ride forthagain to find another lady, differing in kind, perhaps, but not indegree. In his scheme of things wild young daughters of Americansea-captains had no place whatever. 

Yet even as he made this assertion he found himself moving toward thecompanionway and down to the deck below. 

"Will you sit out the next dance with me?" he heard himself murmuring toBobby over her partner's shoulder. 

"You bet I will, " said Bobby with a smile that made him forget theawfulness of her language. 

Ten minutes later they were leaning over the rail on the desertedboat-deck, the wind full in their faces, watching the prow of thesteamer gently rise and fall as she sailed straight into the goldenheart of the sun. Up from the horizon spread wave after wave; ofperilous color, emerald melting into azure, crimson dying into rose. There was just enough breeze to put a tiny feather on the windward slopeof the waves, and every white crest caught the glory. 

"This is better than all the tangoing in the world, " cried Bobby. "Haveyou been up here all afternoon?"

"I have. You see, all those people below get rather on one's nerves. "

"Do _I?_" she challenged him instantly. 

"Not on one's nerves exactly, " he said, thrillingly aware that her armwas touching his on the railing and that the dangerous pink light wasplaying over her face; "but I must say you do get on one's--one's mind!"

She laughed gaily. 

"Well, that's next to having nothing on your mind. Say, you wouldn'tthink I had the blues, would you?"

"Can't say I should. "

"Well, I have. I've been so homesick all day that I could go round thecorner and cry if you--if you hadn't said I mustn't. "

"What are you homesick for?"

"Oh, for the old ranch and the ponies and my dogs and--and lots ofthings. See the way the wind flecks the water over there? Well, that'sjust the way it does the grasslands back home. "

"But it's such a parched, barren sort of a place, Wyoming. "

"It is _not_. You ought to see it in the early spring, wheneverything is vivid green, and the cactus is in bloom--the red-floweredkind that looks so pretty against the sides of the gray buttes. Why, youcan gallop for miles with your horse's hoofs sinking into beds ofprairie roses!"

"But it's virtually green in England all the year round. I'd like toshow you a well-run English estate. Rather a pretty sight. HascombeHall's a fairly decent example. Some hundreds of acres, don't you know. "

"Some hundreds!" repeated Bobby, scornfully. "Our ranch covers twohundred thousand acres, and it takes Pa Joe four days' hard riding toget over it!"

"Oh, I say, most extraordinary! But if I were you, I wouldn't thinkabout home affairs, " said Percival, to whom her background in Wyomingwas of no consequence. He liked to think of her as having begun to livewhen she met him, and as gracefully ceasing to exist when they parted. 

"All right, " said Bobby, resignedly. "I've kept bottled up this long; Isuppose I can manage the rest of the time. What's that book you've beenreading?"

"Shelley. "

"Is it a love-story?"

Percival winced. 

"It is poetry, " he said. "I shouldn't mind reading you a bit, if youlike. "

She did like. She evidently liked tremendously. She listened as aninquisitive bird might listen to a strange wood note, with her head onone side and her bright eyes intent upon his face. 

When Percival's perfectly modulated voice ceased, she sighed:

"I didn't understand a word of it, " she said, "but I could listen to youread forever. It makes me think of the wind in the trees, and all thelovely things that ever happened to me. "

"But don't you like the poem?"

[Illustration: "I like the way your mouth looks when you read it. "]

"I like the way your mouth looks when you read it. Your chin's nice, too, isn't it?"

"Oh, I don't know, " said Percival, with an unsuccessful effort atindifference; "it's the Hascombe chin. Been in the family forgenerations. "

"Think of having a chin as old as that! Perhaps that's what makes you sosolemn. "

"Am I solemn?"

"Awfully. Elise Weston says she believes you have been crossed in love. "

The hollow chambers of Percival's heart reverberated with alarmingechoes. He shot a suspicious glance at Bobby, but her innocent gazereassured him. 

"I am afraid your friend Miss Weston is romantic, " he said stiffly. "AmI keeping you too long from the dance?"

"Oh, no, " said Bobby, comfortably. "I've got the next with Andy Black. He'll never think to look up here. But are you quite sure I'm notgetting on your nerves?"

"I am quite sure you are a most awfully charming girl, " Percivalexclaimed with sudden warmth. "As a matter of fact, I--I like youtremendously. "

"That's nice, " said Bobby, "because, you see, I like you!"

There was no reason why her avowal should have been regarded as moreserious than his own. But he took alarm instantly. 

"You won't mind my telling you a few things for your own good, willyou?" he asked, taking refuge in the safe rôle of mentor. 

"Not a bit, " said Bobby; "fire away. "

She listened for five minutes to his dissertation on the impropriety ofyoung ladies playing poker in the smoking-room, then she became restive. 

"Isn't it funny, " she said by way of changing the subject, "thatyesterday was Friday, and to-morrow is going to be Saturday, and to-dayisn't anything?"

"But it _is_ something. It's a day I shall remember. "

Percival was drifting again, and he knew it, but there was that in thebewitching face upturned to his that demoralized him. 

"No, " said Bobby, "it's the day that never was. We just picked it up outof the sea, and we are going to drop it back again. Whatever happensto-day doesn't count. "

"Why?"

"Because by to-morrow, you see, to-day never will have been. "

"Deuced clever idea that, I call it. Never thought of it. Suppose wecelebrate by way of doing something that we wouldn't do if it counted. "

Bobby clapped her hands. "What shall it be?"

"Well, suppose for the rest of the day you consider me the person youquite like best in the world. "

She considered it. 

"All right. I don't mind for the rest of the day. And you promise toforget all those girls over in England, and pretend that I am the nicestgirl you know?"

"I promise, " said Percival. 

When the second gong for dinner sounded, the two white-clad figureswere still leaning on the railing in the secluded angle made by twolife-boats. The color had gone from the sky, but every moment thepurpling waters were growing more vivid, more intense, more thrillinglyalive to the mystery of the coming night. The Honorable Percival'scap was on Bobby's head, and his coat was about her shoulders. As tohimself, he seemed strangely indifferent to the tumbled state of hiswind-blown hair and the shocking informality of his shirt-sleeves. It was quite evident that for the time being, at least, he had throwndiscretion to the winds, and was sailing away from his memories at therate of sixteen knots an hour. 

That night at dinner the captain followed Mrs. Weston's advice and tooksoundings. Nothing was lost upon him, from Bobby's late arrival in asomewhat sophisticated white evening gown that she had hitherto scorned, to the new and becoming way in which her hair was arranged. It did notrequire a Nelson eye to discover a suppressed excitement under her highspirits or to detect the side-play that was taking place between her andthe apparently stolid Englishman at her right. 

Captain Boynton looked at Mrs. Weston and raised one eyebrow; she noddedcomprehendingly. Later in the evening, when he dropped into asteamer-chair beside her, he asked if she had seen Bobby. 

"Not since dinner. All the young people have been asking for her. Didyou look in the writing-room ?"

"I've looked everywhere except in the coal-bunkers, " said the captain, gruffly. "Talk to me about responsibility. I'd rather run a schooner upthe Hoogli than to steer that girl of mine. "

"You've wakened to your duty rather late, haven't you!" asked Mrs. Weston. "I suppose it's the Englishman who is making you anxious?"

The captain dropped his voice. 

"Did you see the way she looked at him at dinner? By George! it wasenough to melt the leg off an iron pot!"

"It's been coming for a week, " said Mrs. Weston, wisely. "If you reallyoppose it, there is no time to be lost. "

"Oppose it? Of course I oppose it. What's to be done?"

"The situation requires delicate handling. Would you like me to try andhelp you out--share the responsibility of chaperoning her, I mean?"

"Permanently?" asked the captain, shooting a quizzical glance at herfrom under his heavy brows. 

"You wretch!" said Mrs. Weston, flushing. "Just to Hong-Kong, I mean. "

That night about ten o'clock the captain, who happened to be crossingthe steerage deck, came quite unexpectedly upon Percival and Bobbygroping their way through the dark. 

[Illustration: "Roberta!" he called sternly. "What are you doing outhere?"]

"Roberta, " he called sternly, "What are you doing out here?"

"Oh, " cried Bobby, breathlessly, feeling her way around the hatch, "we've been out on the prow for hours, and it was simply gorgeous. All inky black except the phosphorescence, miles and miles of it! Andsome dolphins, all covered with silver, kept racing with us and leapingclear out of the water, like wriggly bits of fire. And the stars--why, Mr. Hascombe's been telling me the most fascinating things I everheard about stars. We've had a perfectly wonderful time, haven't we, Mr. Hascombe?"

"Topping!" said the Honorable Percival. 

VIII

IN THE CROW'S-NEST

The sea-voyage of thirty days, which in the beginning had threatenedto stretch into eternity, now seemed to be racing into the past with aswiftness that was incredible. To Percival the one desirable thing inlife had come to be the sailing of the high seas under favoring winds, in a big ship, with Bobby Boynton on board, and a conscience that hadagreed to remain quiescent until port was reached. 

Not that Percival's conscience succumbed without a struggle; he had toassure it repeatedly that he would refrain from rousing in Bobby anyhopes that might be realized. The moment she showed the slightest signof taking his attentions seriously he would kindly, but firmly, make herunderstand. It would not be the first time he had had to do this. Herecalled several instances with sad complacency. But a man cannot alwaysbe sacrificing himself. A mild flirtation, with a girl whom he neverexpected to see again was surely a harmless way of consoling himself forthe harsh treatment he had recently received from another of her sex. 

The one fly in his amber these days was Andy Black; only Andy was not afixed object. His activities were endless, and, strangely enough, theyexerted a powerful influence on Percival, causing him to change hisentire mode of life from his hour of getting up to his hour of retiring. In order to get half an hour's conversation with Bobby Boynton it wasnecessary to outwit Andy, and he was devoting himself assiduously tothe task. 

What complicated the matter was that Andy had embraced him in hisgeneral affection for humanity, and despite persistent snubbingcontinued to treat him as the friend of his bosom. Percival could hatehim contemptuously when he was out of sight, but he found it difficultto keep up the dislike when the fat, boyish fellow sat on the sofaopposite his berth and poured out his innermost confidences. 

"You see, " he would say plaintively as he reached for Percival's silvershoe-horn, "I never slide into love, like most fellows. I always splashright in, head first. That's what I did the first night I came on board, and I haven't come up yet. When I do, she'll hit me in the head. Shewon't have me; you see if she does. "

Of course Percival agreed with him, but in the meanwhile he wonderedwhat Bobby could find in him to afford her such constant amusement. 

One sparkling morning when the white caps were dancing on the bluewater, and every bit of loose canvas was spanking the wind for joy, Bobby announced that she was going again to the crow's-nest. She hadcircled the deck some ten times between her two cavaliers, and thedifficulty of keeping mental step with either in the presence of theother may have influenced her sudden decision. 

"What do you want to do that for?" said Andy, whose weight made himcautious. "It's a mean climb, and there's nothing to see when you getup there. "

"There's everything to see, " said Bobby and she looked at Percival. 

Ten days ago nothing could have induced him to do such an unconventionaland conspicuous thing. He remembered the exact phrase he had appliedto it when told by the Scotchman of Bobby's previous adventure. "Characteristically American, " he had remarked, with a disparagingshrug. 

Now, with assumed languor, he said, "I don't mind going with you. "

Two sailors were found to tie the ropes around their waists and standguard below while they slowly and cautiously climbed from one swayingrung to another. 

"All right?" asked Bobby, looking down over her shoulder. 

"Right as rain, " called Percival, with suggestion of eagerness in hisvoice. 

He followed her cautiously as she scrambled like a squirrel from the topof the ladder to the crow's-nest. Swinging through the clear sky onehundred feet above the water below, they found themselves in the suddenintimacy of a vast and magnificent solitude. The sapphire sky met thesapphire sea in a sharply defined, unbroken line around them, whileshimmers of palpitating light rose from the sparkling waters until theylost themselves in the zenith above. 

"Oh, look! look!" cried Bobby, with an eager hand on Percival's arm. Turning, he saw the water suddenly disturbed by hundreds of curvedbodies that glistened in the sunlight as they leaped together in aperfect riot of joy. 

"Silly old fish, the porpoise, " he said, "always making circles in thewater like that"

But the ennui expressed in his words was not reflected in his face. Evensilly old porpoises acquire an interest when one's attention is calledto them by a small and shapely hand that forgets in the enthusiasm ofthe moment to remove itself from one's arm. It was only by sharplycalling to mind the haughty faces of his mother and sisters that herefrained from indiscretion. 

"You don't mind?" he asked, drawing his cigar-case from his pocket. "Deuced clever of you, I call it, to think of coming up here. How didyou know that Black fellow wouldn't come?"

"He's too fat to climb, " said Bobby. "He doesn't even like to walk. "

"Thought he was quite keen about it from the way he walked with us everyevening. A decent chap would not intrude. "

"That's funny!" said Bobby, with twinkling eyes. "That's almost exactlywhat he said about you, only he didn't say intrude. "

"What did he say?"

"Butt in, " said Bobby. 

The Honorable Percival suffered one of those acute revulsions that hadbecome less frequent of late. At such times he marveled at himself forpermitting such vulgarity in his presence. 

"You Americans have the most extraordinary expressions, Miss Boynton!"he said. 

"How queer that sounds!"

"What?"

"Miss Boynton. I thought you'd got to the Bobby stage. Perhaps you'drather make it Roberta. "

"Yes, I think I should, if I may. "

For a few seconds they dropped into silence, he puffing away at hiscigar, and she gazing off to the horizon as if she had quite forgottenhis presence. 

"Were you ever in love?" she asked, turning on him suddenly. 

"Why do you ask?" he said, scrutinizing the ash of his cigar. 

"Because it's so queer you never got married. I thought young Englishmenwith names and estates to keep up always married right away. "

"Well, I suppose they do, as a rule. The Hascombes are ratherdifferent. Of course there have been a lot of girls who were foolishenough to--er--to think--"

"To think they were in love with you? Go ahead! I'll shut my eyes. "

Instead, she opened them very wide, and he had to unbutton his coat justfor the sake of buttoning it up again. 

"But I don't care about them, " she went on; "I want to know if _you've_ever been in love. "

"Imagined I was once. "

"Oh, what fun! Tell me about it from beginning to end!"

"How do you know it had an end!"

"I'd gamble on it, " said Bobby, confidently. "But tell me!"

Just why Percival at this moment felt a sudden desire to discuss asubject that hitherto he had shrunk from the slightest reference to canbe explained only by the fact that the confiding of an unhappy loveaffair to a sympathetic member of the opposite sex seems a necessarystage of convalescence. It was the first chance he had had to presenthis version of the story to an unbiased listener, and if he omittedcertain details, and laid undue stress upon others, it must not be heldagainst him. 

"Of course, " he said in conclusion, "through a sense of honor I'd havegone through with it. Fortunately, it was not necessary. Poor girl brokeit off herself. "

He spoke as of one who had committed suicide, but in regard to whom akindly jury would have brought in a verdict of temporary insanity. 

"Well, I think you were perfectly splendid, all through, " cried Bobby. "What sort of a girl could she have been to act like that?"

He took several long, satisfying pulls at his cigar; it was astonishinghow much he was enjoying it, and the conversation as well. 

"Oh, she's quite one of the best, you know. Dare say she thought it wasall my fault. "

"The idea! Was she pretty?"

"Opinions differ. "

"Smart?"

"Rather!"

"Jolly?"

"Well, no, not exactly jolly; that's not quite the word. "

"Very proper, I suppose, "

"Oh, yes, absolutely; most decidedly so. Perfect stickler for form. "

Bobby sighed. 

"Just the opposite from me all the way through. Well, I'm glad youwouldn't make up. Serves her right. "

"Probably best for everybody, " said Percival. "Now it's your turn. Howabout yourself!"

"Well, " she said with what struck him as the strangest irrelevance, "ourscheme seems to be working with the captain. We've got him guessing. Hetold me last night I was not to go to the prow with you again. "

"Why not?"

"He thinks you like me too much. "

"What do _you_ think?"

Percival bit his lip the moment he had asked it, but leaning there onthe railing, with her dancing eyes on a level with his own, and nothingelse on the entire horizon, it was difficult to keep the situation inhand. 

"I think you are getting a bully tan, " she said, scrutinizing himclosely; "most men get a red nose or else they get all speckled aroundthe edges. Yours looks like a nice crust on an apple pie. "

"I do tan rather decently, " he said; "but you haven't told me what youthink. "

"What about?"

"About my liking you too much. "

"I think the captain exaggerated. "

"He couldn't exaggerate that. "

"But how can you like me when I'm all wrong?"

"I like you because of your possibilities. You've probably never met anyone before who understood you as I do. Quite extraordinary the wayyou've improved since you came on board. "

"And you've got fourteen days more to work on me! Do you think anybodywill recognize me when I get back to Wyoming?"

"Now you are chaffing!" complained Percival. "You never take meseriously. "

"Then you want me to be serious, and believe everything you say?"

He paused in awed contemplation of the direful consequences if sheshould, but for the life of him he couldn't stop. 

"I want you to believe me, " he said tenderly, "when I say that you'vebeen most awfully sweet, and that I wouldn't give half a sovereign forany other girl's chances if you were within ten miles. I want you toknow that I consider you the prettiest girl I've ever seen, and themost--"

Bobby tightened the rope about her waist. 

"It's time for me to be going, " she exclaimed in mock alarm, "If youkeep on saying things like that, I may furnish another scalp to thatcollection you were telling me about. I don't dare stay another minute. "

Neither did Percival. He followed her down the ladder as if he had beenescaping from quicksands. 

That night the crow's-nest was added to the prow on the list of placesabout a ship which the captain felt young ladies should stay away from. 

[Illustration: "You will have to join the crowd. " suggested Bobby whenPercival complained of not seeing her as often as he wished]

"You will have to join the crowd, " suggested Bobby when Percivalcomplained of not seeing her as often as he wished. "We sing up on theboat-deck every night, and now the moon is up, it's perfectly gorgeous. "

But Percival's abhorrence of crowds made him hold out resolutely untilthe day before they were to land in Japan. Everybody was making plansfor the few days to be spent in port, and small parties were beingformed to leave the steamer at Yokohama and join it three days laterat Kobe. Percival was annoyed because the steamer had to stop at all. Any interruption in the present routine was a nuisance. He vacillatedbetween the inconvenience of going ashore and the stupidity of remainingon board. An invitation from Mrs. Weston to join her party, and aninsistent demand from Bobby Boynton, decided him. He made hispreparations accordingly. 

But an unforeseen incident occurred the night before the _Saluria_landed which caused him suddenly to change his plans. He was just readyto go below for the night when an overmastering desire for one more wordwith Bobby seized him. By a bit of Machiavellian strategy he hadoutwitted Andy that afternoon, and had her entirely to himself for threeblissful hours. 

It was in their old haunt behind the wind-shelter, and he had taken theopportunity, if not to "shatter her to bits, " at least "to remold hernearer to the heart's desire. " He had done it with consummate tact, andshe had responded with adorable docility. He never admired himself morethan in the rôle of cicerone to a young and trusting maid. By thesubtlest methods he knew how to convey approval or disapproval ofanything from a beaded slipper to a moral sentiment. He could stirdormant ambition, rouse lagging courage, inspire patience, and all hedemanded in return was unfaltering homage from the fair one. 

In the present instance, however, the entire time was not devoted tocorrecting faults of manner and speech or to acquiring the higherChristian virtues. It was incredible how many things they found to talkabout, considering the fact that art, literature, music, the drama, foreign travel, and London gossip were not among them. Bobby's way ofdiving unexpectedly from the general into the personal made atête-à-tête with her peculiarly exhilarating. 

The trouble was that the more one had, the more one wanted, and going tobed now without a parting word seemed to Percival really more than hehad a right to ask of himself. He circled the deck several times inindecision, then he ascended the companionway and made his way aft. 

A full moon hung high in the heavens, and a flood of silver poured in adazzling stream across the level surface of the sea. The quarter-deck, the white boats amidships, and all the brass work abaft the funnelsreflected the radiance. 

"See who is here!" cried the irrepressible Andy from anindistinguishable group that huddled together under steamer-rugs againstthe big blue-and-white smoke-stack. 

"May I speak to Miss Boynton for a moment?" asked Percival, icily. 

"I'm afraid I can't get out, " said Bobby. "Elise is sitting on my feet, and Andy and I've got on the same sweater. There's a place for you here, if you will come. "

It is really too undignified an act in the life of the HonorablePercival to chronicle, but before he had time to contradict his impulse, he had actually doubled up his long legs and crawled into the smallspace Bobby made for him beside her. If she persisted in preferring thisnoisy bunch of inanity to a quiet stroll on the promenade-deck with him, then he supposed for the time being he must humor her. 

Youth and love and moonlight at sea are a magic combination, however, and Percival soon decided that even though it was deuced uncomfortableto be huddled up like that, with both feet asleep, yet there werecompensations. 

"Sing!" commanded Bobby, and he joined obediently in the chorus. As thenight wore on a caressing coolness crept into the air, and the crowdgathered into a closer group. Percival could feel Bobby breathing nearhim, and could look down undisturbed into her upturned face as she sangwith passionate abandon to the moon. She seemed to have entirely lostsight of her surroundings and was off on some high adventure of her own, leaving him free to watch her to his heart's content. 

It was a situation fraught with danger; yet he lingered. He did more:he slipped his hand beneath the rug and sought cautiously for hers. Astheir palms met, and her small fingers closed responsively over his, such a thrill of satisfaction passed over him as he had never feltbefore. His old wounds were suddenly healed, life became a passionatelove-song on a languorous, moonlit sea. But his ecstasy ceased with themusic. Bobby's voice broke the spell with frightful distinctness:

[Illustration: "If you want to hold my hand, Mr. Hascombe, you arewelcome to it. "]

"If you want to hold my hand, Mr. Hascombe, you are welcome to it. Andy's got the other one; but if you don't mind, we'll put them alltogether, like that, on top of the steamer-rug. "

During the laugh that followed he managed to got to his feet and makehis escape. He had never been so angry in his life; he even includedhimself in his devastating wrath. Why shouldn't he have been insulted, laughed at, jeered at! When one allows oneself to associate with suchpeople, he ought to expect such behavior. 

_"Plebeians!_" he snarled as he jerked together the curtains of hisberth and turned his face to the wall. 

IX

DRAGGING ANCHOR

Of course, after what had happened, nothing could induce Percival tojoin the Weston party in Japan. He left a note of formal regret, andhastened ashore on the first launch in the morning. His one desire wasto avoid those detestable young Americans, whose diabolical laughter hadrung in his ears all night. The wounds received by vanity are neverserious, but they are very hard to heal, and as Percival stopped ashorein this strange land he felt that he was the most unhappy of mortals. 

"Call a hansom, " he demanded impatiently of Judson, who stood grinningat the queer sights on the hatoba. 

"There ain't none, sir. "

"Of course; I forgot. But how are we to get to the hotel?"

"Carn't say, sir, unless we go in a couple of them perambulators. "

Percival took an instant dislike to a country that forced him to ridein a ridiculous vehicle, pulled by a small bare-legged brown man in amushroom hat. All the way to the hotel he was unhappy in the convictionthat he was making a spectacle of himself. 

The rooms which he had engaged in advance were not satisfactory, and itwas not until he had inspected all the suites that were unoccupied thathe decided upon one that commanded a view of the bay. Once establishedtherein, he despatched Judson for his mail and for any English papersthat might be found, then took up his position by a front window andsternly watched the bund. 

The picturesque harbor, full of sampans and junks, the gay streets, fullof color and movement, the thousand unfamiliar sights and sounds, heldno interest for the Honorable Percival. His whole attention was focusedupon the jinrikishas that constantly arrived and departed at theentrance below. 

He wanted to see Bobby's face and read there the signs of contrition, which he felt sure must have followed her unfeeling conduct of the nightbefore. But he intended to punish her before he forgave. Such a violenceto their friendship could not go unrebuked. Even when he received thenote of apology which he felt sure she would send up the moment shereached the hotel, he would delay answering it. She must be made tosuffer in order to profit by this unhappy experience. 

His reflections were interrupted by a rap at the door, which called himaway from the window. It proved to be a sleek Chinaman, who profferedhis card, bearing the inscription:

"G. Lung Fat, Ladies' and Gents' Tailer. "

G. Lung Fat, it seemed, had beheld Percival in the lobby and beengreatly impressed with his bearing. It would be an honor, he urged, withthe fervor of an artist craving permission to paint a subject that hadcaptured his fancy, to cut, fit, and finish any number of garments forsuch a figure before the ship sailed on the morrow. 

Percival was impressed. He examined the samples with the air of aconnoisseur. Like most Englishmen, he had a weakness for light clothesand sun-helmets. The regalia suggested English supremacy in foreignlands. He had ordered his fourth suit and was earnestly considering awhite dinner-jacket when familiar voices from the street below made himspring to the window. 

It was Bobby Boynton and Andy Black, who were evidently setting forth injinrikishas alone, Mrs. Weston and the other young people remaining toinspect the fascinating array of curios that were being displayed on thepavement. If any sorrow for past misdeeds dwelt in Bobby's bosom, therewas certainly no trace of it on her face as she called gaily back overher shoulder:

"We are off for a lark; you needn't look for us until you see us. "

Percival dismissed the Chinaman peremptorily, and paced his room inindignation. It was incredible that a girl who had basked in the sun ofhis approval could find even temporary pleasure in the feeble rushlightof Andy Black's society. Not that it made the slightest difference tohim where she went or with whom. If her father saw fit to permit her togo forth in a strange city with a strange man, unchaperoned, of courseit was not for him to interfere. But that she should have, at the firstopportunity, disregarded his counsels, to which she had listened withsuch flattering attention, angered him beyond measure. He bitterlyassured himself that all women were alike, an assertion which seems tobring universal relief to the masculine mind. 

His ill humor was not decreased when Judson returned, after a longdelay, and reported that the mail had been sent to the steamer. Notcontent with being the bearer of this unpleasant news, Judson committedthe indiscretion of waxing eloquent over the charms of Japan. Percivalconsidered it impertinent in an inferior to express enthusiasm foranything that was under the ban of his disapproval. Before thediscussion ended it became his painful duty to remind Judson of the factthat he was an ass. 

At tiffin-time, when he descended to the dining-room, owing to therecent arrival of two steamers, all the tables were engaged. There wasone in the corridor, he was told, if he did not mind another gentleman. He did mind; he much preferred a table alone, but he also wanted hisluncheon. He followed the unctuous head waiter the length of the bigdining-room, winding in and out among the small tables, only to emergefinally into the corridor and find himself face to face with his _bêtenoire_, Captain Boynton. 

"Hello! Can't lose you, " was the captain's gruff greeting. "How does ithappen that you aren't off with the crowd doing the sights?"

"Sights bore me, " said Percival, unfolding his napkin with an air oflassitude. 

"Crowds, too, eh? Twoing more in your line?"

The remark was treated with contemptuous silence while Percival devotedhimself to the menu. 

"Seen that girl of mine since she came ashore?" continued the captain. 

"Miss Boynton?" asked Percival, as if not quite sure of the identity ofthe person inquired for. "Oh, yes, I believe I did see her early thismorning. She went out with Mr. Black. "

"Good! He'll show her a thing or two. "

"Rather extraordinary, " Percival could not help commenting, "the wayyoung American girls go about alone like that. "

"Alone? What's the matter with Andy?"

"But I mean unchaperoned. Dare say young Black is very good in his way, but he can't be called discreet. "

"How do you mean?"

"Taking your daughter into that nasty mess of Chinamen in the steerage, for instance, to watch them play fan-tan. "

"What of that? She only lost a couple of quarters and had a dollar'sworth of fun. Can't see it was any worse than keeping her out at theprow until midnight, or taking her up to the crow's-nest. " The captainpushed back his chair, and smiled with maddening significance. "Seehere, my young friend, you needn't worry about Bobby. She's been takingcare of herself for twenty years. You better look after yourself. "

The Honorable Percival did not answer. He got his eye-glass right andlooked straight ahead of him. 

But the captain was not through. He leaned across the table and shook awarning finger:

"Beware of J. Lucy, " he said, then he took a smiling departure. 

Through the rest of the meal and well into the afternoon Percivalpuzzled his brain over that cryptic warning. When its meaning dawnedupon him he flung "Guillim's Display of Heraldry" clear across the room, and used language not becoming an English gentleman. He assured himselffor the hundredth time that Americans were the most odious people in theworld, and the captain the most convincing proof of it. 

The afternoon dragged miserably, and the prospect of waiting about thehotel until the steamer sailed at noon the next day appalled him. Theobvious thing, of course, was to go out and see the city, but he haddeclared to Judson that there was nothing worth seeing, and one must beconsistent before one's servants. Even the morrow offered no abatementto his misery. Most of the people he knew were going from Yokohama toKobe by rail, and he pictured himself the only guest at the captain'stable for three mortal days. 

At three o'clock he went down to the terrace and took his seat at asmall table that commanded a view of the hotel entrance. To one witha free mind the scene was highly diverting, with jinrikishas andoccasional victorias thronging the bund, and gay parties constantlyarriving and departing. Coolies in blue, with mysterious Chineselettering on their kimonos and with bright towels about their heads, trotted past; women with blackened teeth and with babies strapped ontheir backs clattered by on wooden shoes; street venders sang theirsavory wares; merchants displayed treasures of lacquer and ivory, streetdancers posed and sang to the tinkle of the samisen. 

But to Percival it was at best a purgatory where he seemed to be doomedto wait through eternity. Not that he meant to speak to Bobby Boyntonwhen she arrived or make the slightest sign of forgiveness. That sheshould have allowed Andy Black to keep her out from eleven in themorning until after three in the afternoon was even more shocking thanher behavior to him the night before. He was resolved to show her byevery means in his power that to even a disinterested acquaintance likehimself her conduct was wholly unpardonable. Meanwhile that emotion towhich the captain had so grossly alluded took entire and absorbingpossession of him. 

Toward the middle of the afternoon Mrs. Weston joined him on the terracein an anxious mood. 

"Have you seen anything of that naughty Bobby Boynton?" she asked. "I amquite distracted about her. Our train for Kioto leaves in half an hour. You don't suppose anything has happened to her, do you?"

"I really can't say, " said Percival, with a shrug that suggested thedirest possibilities. 

"We simply must go on to Kioto tonight, " continued Mrs. Weston, anxiously nervous. "My cousin would never forgive me if I disappointedhim. You see, he's lived in Kioto for years, and he's promised to takeus out to an old Buddhist temple on a wonderful sacred mountain that Ican't pronounce. We've been looking forward to it for weeks. "

Percival stood back of his chair and watched his tea getting cold. Thesuggestion of something having happened to Bobby had changed his angerto sharp solicitude. Gruesome tales of brutality toward foreigners inEastern ports came back to him. 

"I wonder, " said Mrs. Weston, persuasively, "if you would mind taking ajinrikisha and going down to Benten Dori to see if they are there. Ihave no one else to send. "

"I don't know that I should care to go myself, " said Percival, "but I'llsend my man. "

Judson having been despatched, Percival with difficulty refrained fromfollowing him. Mrs. Weston's solicitude as she hovered between thetelephone-booth and the desk was infectious, and he found himself pacingfrom entrance to entrance, imagining the most calamitous causes for thedelay. 

It was not until a joyful exclamation from Elise Weston announced theapproach of the truants that he drew a deep breath of relief and retiredto the reading-room. He was more than ever resolved not to see Bobby; toher former transgressions was now added the new and unpardonable offenseof having made him acutely anxious about her. 

He took up an old copy of the "Graphic, " and resolutely read of eventsthat had taken place before he left England. He even glanced through thepages of the innocuous "Gentlewoman, " and tried to concentrate upon anarticle entitled "Favorite Fabrics for Autumn. " In vain were hisefforts; every sound from the lobby or the street claimed his instantattention. At last, when an unmistakable commotion without gave evidencethat the Weston party was leaving, he got up, despite himself, and wentto the window. 

They were all there, Mrs. Weston, Elise, the Scotchman, Andy, and Bobby, all climbing into their jinrikishas in the greatest possible haste andin the highest possible spirits. One after another the jinrikishastrundled away, until only Bobby's was left while her runner adjusted hissandal. Percival saw her turn in her seat and eagerly scan the terraceand the windows of the hotel. Then suddenly she caught sight of him, andher face broke into a radiant smile as she waved her hand and nodded. 

A moment later and his eyes were straining after a figure that was fastdisappearing up the bund. It was a small, alert figure, disturbinglyyoung and sweet and buoyant. The flying jinrikisha, the hair blowingacross her cheek, the scarf that fluttered in the breeze, all suggestedflight, and flight to the masculine mind is only another term forpursuit. 

He flung down his paper and strode out to the lobby. 

"When is the next train for Kioto?" he demanded. 

"At ten to-night, sir. "

"Make out my bill, and get my luggage down; I'm leaving on that train. "

"But, sir, you have made no reservation. You may have to sit up allnight. "

"Have you any objections?" asked the Honorable Percival in his mostinsular manner. 

X

ON THE SEARCH

The clerk's prophecy proved all too true. Percival and his valet sat allnight in a crowded, smoke-dimmed car, between a fat Japanese wrestlerand a fatter Buddhist priest, both of whom squatted on their heels andread aloud in monotonous, wailing tones. The air was close, and thefloor was strewn with orange peel, spilt tea, and cigarette ends. Percival's fastidious senses were offended as they had never beenoffended before. Under ordinary circumstances nothing could have inducedhim to submit to such discomfort, but the circumstances were notordinary. 

The alternative of remaining calmly in Yokohama and allowing anaggressive young American to monopolize the girl of his even temporarychoice was utterly intolerable. Moreover, he was coming to see thatwhile Bobby had failed to droop under the frost of his displeasure, itwas still probable that she would melt into penitence at the first smileof royal forgiveness. 

During the long hours of that interminable night he had ample time toreflect upon the folly of pursuing an object which he did not mean topossess. But though wisdom urged discretion, a blue eye and a furtivedimple beckoned. 

When morning came, he straightened his stiff legs and, picking his waythrough the wooden sandals that cluttered the aisle, went out to thesmall platform. The train had stopped at a village, and a boy with atray suspended from his shoulders, bearing boxes of native food, washowling dismally:

"Bento! Eo Bento!"

Percival beckoned to him. "I say, can't you get me a roll and a cup ofcoffee!"

"Bento?" asked the boy, expectantly. 

"Coffee!" shouted Percival. "Rather strong, you know, and hot. "

"Tan San? Rhomenade?" asked the boy. 

"Coffee. Café. What a silly fool!" Percival muttered. 

About this time several windows in the car went up, and many voices tookup the cry of "Bento. " When Percival reëntered, he found that a largepot of boiling water had been deposited in the aisle, and small tea-potshad been distributed among the passengers. Everybody was partaking ofbreakfast, and everybody seemed to be enjoying it, especially Judson, who was attacking his neatly arranged bamboo sprouts, pickled eels, andsnowy rice with avidity. 

"This is a bit of all right, sir, " he said with enthusiasm. "Shall Ifetch you a box, sir!"

Percival lifted a protesting hand. And yet the pungent odor of thepickle and the still smoking rice was not unpleasant. He watched withincreasing appetite the disappearance of the various viands. There wereoccasions when a man might even envy his valet. 

At the Kioto Hotel there was no record of the Weston party, so hesnatched a hasty bite, and rushed on to the other large hotel. It wason a hillside well out from the city, and two coolies were required foreach jinrikisha. Seeing that they had a newly arrived tourist, they weremoved to show him the sights, much to Percival's annoyance. 

"San-ju-san-gen-do Temple, " the man in front said, putting down theshafts of the jinrikisha confidently. "Thirty-three thousand images ofgreat god Kwannon. Come see? No? So desu ka?"

Later he stopped at a flower-girt tea-house. 

"Geisha maybe! Very fine dancers. Come see? No? So desu ka?"

So it continued, the two small guides trying in vain to arouse someinterest in the stern young gentleman who sat so rigidly in thejinrikisha, with his mind bent solely on reaching the Yaami Hotel in theshortest possible time. 

On his arrival, he met with disappointment. The effusive proprietorinformed him that a party of five, "one single lady, and two youngmarried couples, he thought, " had breakfasted there and left immediatelywith Dr. Weston for Hieizan. They would not return until night. 

"What, pray, is Hieizan?" Percival asked, dimly remembering Mrs. Weston's outlined plan. 

"Very grand mountain, " said the proprietor; "view of Lake Biwa. Biggestpine-tree in the world. "

The last thing that Percival desired to see was a big pine-tree, but theprospect of sharing the sight of it with Bobby Boynton spurred him tofurther inquiry. 

"But they must come back, mustn't they? Perhaps I could meet themhalfway?"

"Oh, yes. They go by _kago_ over mountain; you go by 'rickisha toOtsu, and wait. Very nice, very easy. All come home together. I furnishfine jinrikisha and very good man, Sanno; spik very good English. "

Percival had an early lunch, and, leaving Judson sitting disconsolatelyamong the hand-bags, started for Otsu. From the first his runnerjustified his reputation of speaking English; he began by counting upto fifty, looking over his shoulder for approval, and expecting to beprompted when his memory failed. He received Percival's peremptoryorder to be silent with an uncomprehending smile and a glib recitationof the Twenty-third Psalm. He was an unusually tall coolie, and thejinrikisha-shafts resting in his hands were a foot higher than theyought to be, throwing his passenger at a most awkward angle. Before Otsuwas reached a sudden rainstorm came on, and Percival was made yet moreuncomfortable by having the hood of the jinrikisha put up, and a pieceof stiff oilcloth tucked about him. 

By the time he rattled into the courtyard of the small Japanese inn, hewas cramped and cold and very cross. Even the voluble welcome of theproprietor and the four girls, who received him on their knees, failedto revive his spirits. It was going to be deuced awkward explaining hissudden appearance to the Weston party. There might even be jokes at hisexpense. He decided to take a room and not make his appearance unlesseverything seemed propitious. 

An animated discussion was in progress between Sanno and the innkeeper, the import of which Sanno explained with much difficulty. Owing to theautumn festival of the imperial ancestors, the inn was quite full, buthospitality could not he refused to so distinguished a foreign guest. 

"Foreign bedstead is not, " concluded Sanno; "foreign food is not; hotbath is. "

"I sha'n't want a bed, and I sha'n't want a bath, " said Percival, then, seeing that a diminutive maiden was unloosing his shoes, he addedpetulantly: "My boots are quite dry. Tell her to go away. "

But Sanno was getting his jinrikisha under cover, and Percival had tosubmit to the gentle, but firm, determination of the _nesan_. Shewas small and demure, but her attitude towards him was that of a nursetowards a refractory child. She conducted him, with much sliding ofscreens, through several compartments, to a room at the back of thehouse that opened out on a tiny balcony overhanging a noisy stream. 

Percival, standing in his stockinged feet on the soft mats, looked abouthim. The room was devoid of furniture, its only decoration being a vaseof carefully arranged flowers in an alcove, and a queer kakemono thathung on an ivory stick. As he was inspecting the latter, the nesan againapproached him. 

This time she seemed to have designs upon his coat, and despite hisprotest began to remove it. When he forestalled her at one point sheattacked another, until the situation became so embarrassing that heshouted indignantly for Sanno. 

"What is the meaning of this?" he demanded furiously. "Why doesn't thegirl go away, and leave me alone?"

"Gentleman bass already, " said Sanno, soothingly. "Kimono? So?" hejoined forces with the nesan to get Percival out of his clothes and intothe fresh-flowered kimono that lay on the mat. 

"But I never take a tub in the afternoon, " persisted Percival. 

Preparations went politely, but steadily, forward. 

"What's this she's putting on me?" he cried. "I say, I _won't_ weara sash; the whole thing's too beastly silly. Tell her to take it off. "

But despite his protests, the long red scarf was wound about his waistand tied with many deft twists and pats into a butterfly bow at theback. Seeing that protests were quite useless, and being still chilledfrom his long ride, he decided to resist no longer, but to take the baththat was so insisted upon, and be free to watch undisturbed for thereturning party. 

The nesan produced a sponge and towel from her long sleeves and, takingPercival by the hand, led him down the hall. Once in the big, squarewooden tank, with the hot water up to his chin, he forgot his trouble, and gave himself up to the luxury of the moment. Even the knowledge thatthe determined little nesan was waiting outside the door, and that shefrequently applied a round, black eye to a hole in the screen, did notinterfere with his enjoyment. 

When he was again in his room, clothed except for his shoes, histroubles once more assailed him. Suppose the Weston party did not returnby this route! The possibility of missing Bobby fired his desire to seeher at once. He had never known twenty-four hours to contain so manyminutes. 

During the early stages of his malady it had only been necessary for himto recall the aristocratic faces and bearing of his mother and sistersto have his vision instantly cleared and his reason enthroned. Later itbecame necessary to add the captain's sturdy countenance to his list ofexorcising spirits. Now Bobby routed them all, not only taking entirepossession of his mind, but actually invading Hascombe Hall, dancingthrough the gloomy, corridors, and waking the echoes with her youth andmerriment. 

Of course the Honorable Percival tried to stamp out these wildimaginings, and assured himself repeatedly that the moment he landed inHong-Kong the whole episode would be relegated to oblivion. ButHong-Kong was yet ten days away, and Percival saw no use in forgettingbefore he had to. He went out to the courtyard and impatiently surveyedthe rain-soaked road. 

"No come, " said Sanno, cheerfully, from the step where he was keepingwatch. "Tea?"

Without waiting for an answer, he clapped his hands, calling, "_OCha!_"

Another small maiden in a cherry-blossom kimono, carrying a brazier fullof live coals, trotted around the corner and conducted Percival back tohis apartment. She proved even more irritating than the first one, forduring the tea-making she stopped many times to examine his cuff-links, wrist-watch, and ring, making purring exclamations of delight over eachdiscovery. When he used his monocle she tried it also, and when he tookout his cigarette-case, she must examine every detail and help herselfto a cigarette into the bargain. Percival was acutely bored. He regardedher as a persistent fly that refused to be brushed away. He sat with hisback against the paper screen, his stockinged feet rigidly extended, drinking his tea as solemnly as if he had been in the most formaldrawing-room of Grosvenor Square. 

The rainy afternoon closed in to twilight, and still the Weston partydid not come. Percival's impatience gave place to anger, but he doggedlywaited. 

"Could they have gone back another way?" he demanded of Sanno. 

"Way?" repeated Sanno. 

Percival made a drawing on paper and tried to convey his meaning, but itwas useless. 

"'Merican game?" asked Sanno, grinning. 

At last, in desperation, Percival decided to return. 

"Yaami Hotel, Kioto, " he directed. 

"Very sorry, " said Sanno. "No come Kioto to-night. Big rain. Bridge himvery bad. Jinrikisha upset, maybe. "

Percival declared this to be nonsense; he insisted that he would startimmediately. But as Sanno refused to bring out the jinrikisha, it wasnot possible to carry out his intention. Then the Honorable Percival, who was not used to being crossed, lost his temper, and the entirehousehold came out to see him do it. Sanno and the proprietor watchedhim with bland and smiling faces, and the girls tucked their headsbehind their sleeves and laughed immoderately at his scowls and vehementgestures. 

Seeing that he was gaining nothing by argument, he stalked sullenly backto his room, where active preparations were in progress for dinner. Thebrazier which had been used for the tea still stood in the middle of thefloor, and all around it were porcelain bowls and lacquer trays, and awooden bucket full of steaming rice. 

He took refuge on the two-foot balcony and gazed gloomily on thesprawling stream below. The Westons were probably back in Kioto by thistime, and would be off again in the morning before he could possibly getthere. What headway might not that presumptuous Andy Black make withBobby Boynton in forty-eight uninterrupted hours!

His tragic reflections were interrupted by the announcement that dinnerwas served. Seated on the floor before a twelve-inch table, with disgustwritten on every feature, he drank fish-soup out of a bowl, and tasteddish after dish as it was borne in and respectfully placed before him. 

"Haven't you a fork?" he asked when the chop-sticks were proffered him. 

"Forku?" repeated one of the three maidens who knelt before him; thenshe joined the other two in a giggling chorus. 

There had been moments in the Honorable Percival's life when his dignitytrembled on its pedestal, but never had it swayed so perilously as whenhe tried to use chop-sticks for the first time under the fire of thosesix mischievous black eyes. It was only by maintaining his haughtiestmanner that he remained master of the situation. 

When bedtime came, a new difficulty arose. Sanno's prophecy that"foreign bedstead probably is not" proved true. A neat pile of quiltsin the middle of the floor was offered as a substitute, and Percival, after a long argument, stretched himself on the soft heap and courtedoblivion. But the Fates were against him. As if his thoughts were notsufficient to torment him, hundreds of mosquitos swarmed up from thestream below, and assailed him so viciously that at midnight he roseand called loudly for Sanno. 

With Sanno came the household, all eager to know what new excitementthe foreign gentleman was creating. When the trouble was explained, elaborate preparations were set on foot to remedy it. After muchdiscussion, hooks were driven into the corners of the ceiling, anda huge net cage, the size of the room, suspended therefrom. 

During this performance Percival suffered great embarrassment, owing tothe fact that the pink silk underwear in which he was arrayed was anobject of the liveliest interest to the ladies. 

When at last he was left alone, he fell into a troubled sleep. Hedreamed that the world was peopled solely by mosquitos, and he knew themall, Captain Boynton, Andy Black, Sanno, the Lady Hortense, and evenBobby herself. One by one they came and nipped him while he layhelpless, clad only in a pink suit of silken underwear. 

XI

THE GYMKHANA

The experiences of his first twenty-four hours in Japan were repeatedwith variations three times before Percival reached Kobe. His mad desireto overtake Bobby had carried him from Kioto to Nara, where he went tothe wrong hotel and missed the Weston party by fifteen minutes. FromNara he made a night journey to Ozaka, during which the small enginebroke down in the middle of a rice-field, proving a sorry substitute forthe wings of love. 

It was with a sigh of relief that he at last boarded the _Saluria_and sank into his steamer-chair. At least there was one satisfaction, no one but Judson knew of his futile search, and Judson was too welltrained to discuss his master's affairs. How good it was to be on boardonce more! He felt an almost sentimental attachment for the steamerwhich three weeks ago had fallen so short of what an ocean-liner oughtto be. Then the _Saluria_ was only an old Atlantic transporttransferred to the Pacific to do passenger service, but now she wasa veritable ship of romance, freighted with memories and dreams. 

The passengers, coming aboard, seemed like old friends, and he foundhimself greeting each in turn with a nod that surprised them as muchas it did him. At any moment now Bobby Boynton might appear, and theprospect of seeing her raised his spirits to such a height that hewondered if he would be able to play the rôle he had assigned himself. 

He had definitely decided to be an injured, but forgiving, friend. Sheshould be made no less aware of his wounds than of his generosity. Shewould doubtless recall another incident in which he had met ingratitudewith noble forgiveness, and she would rush to make reparation. If therewas one thing he prided himself upon it was a knowledge of women. Neverbut once had his judgment erred, and even then, could he but rememberall his impressions, he doubtless had had moments of misgiving. 

Bobby's voice sounded on the ladder, and the next moment she wastripping down the deck toward him. It was in vain that he kept his eyeson the letter in his hand, and assumed an air of complete absorption. She came straight toward him, and dropped into the chair next his own. 

"Oh, but you missed it!" she said. "I never had so much fun in all mylife. "

He did not answer. Instead, he lifted a pair of melancholy eyes, andlooked at her steadfastly. 

"Oh, " she said after a puzzled moment, "I forgot. We are mad, aren't we?One of us owes the other an apology. "

"Which do you think it is!" he asked gently, as if appealing to herhigher nature. 

Bobby, with her head on one side, considered the matter. "Well, " shesaid, "you did something I didn't like, and I did something you didn'tlike. Strikes me the drinks are on us both. "

"The--" Percival's horrified look caused her to exclaim contritely:

"Excuse me, I'll do better next time. Come on, let's make up. Put itthere and call it square!"

It was impossible to refuse the small hand that had been the cause ofthe trouble, but even as Percival thrilled to its clasp he realized hisdanger. During the course of his twenty-eight years he had always beenable to prescribe a certain course for himself and follow it withreasonable certainty. Exciting moments were now occurring when he wasunable to tell what his next word or move was going to be. It is quitecertain that he never intended to take her hand in both of his and lookat her in the way he was doing now. 

"What a bunch of letters!" she said, getting possession of her hand. "You see, I have some, too. I'll read you some of mine if you'll read mesome of yours. Will you?"

"Which will you have?"

"May I choose? What fun! Read me the one with the sunburst on it. "

He obediently adjusted his monocle, broke the seal, and began:

_"'My Dear Son:_

"'I cannot, I fear, make my letter so long or so interesting as I coulddesire, owing to the fact that I am afflicted with a slight lumbago, butI will proceed without further preliminary to set down the few incidentsof interest that have occurred since my last writing. Your brother issorely harassed by affairs in the city, and when here he is in constantaltercation with the grooms about exercising your horses. I fear youwill find them sadly out of condition upon your return. '"

"I call that a darn shame!" said Bobby, sympathetically, then her handflew to her mouth as she saw Percival's raised eyebrows. 

"There I go again! You see, I've been running around with Andy Black, and nobody ever puts on airs with Andy. "

Percival gave a sigh of discouragement, then resumed his reading:

"'We have had few guests at the hall since your departure untilyesterday, when who should call but the Duchess of Dare!'" Percivalpaused, and glanced hurriedly down the page. 

"Go on!" commanded Bobby. 

"It won't interest you in the slightest. "

"But it _does_. Unless there's something you don't want me tohear. "

"Not at all. Where was I? Oh, yes, 'call but the Duchess of Dare! Shehas let her house to some friends, and has come away from London for afortnight's rest. It was rather queer of her calling, wasn't it? She wasless embarrassed than you would imagine and actually had the effronteryto mention Hortense. '"

"Who is Hortense?" asked Bobby, all curiosity. 

"Her daughter. "

"Well, why shouldn't her mother mention her?"

"Oh, I don't know, " said Percival, in deep water; "rather bad form, perhaps. "

"For a mother to mention her own child?" Then the light dawned. "Perhapsshe is the one you were telling me about. "

Percival hastily folded the letter and slipped it into its emblazonedenvelop. 

"Is she?" persisted Bobby. 

"Is she what?"

"The girl you let down easy?"

"Well, really, Miss Boynton--"

"Roberta, " corrected Bobby. 

"Very well, Roberta. It's your time to read to me. May I choose aletter?"

"No, I'll choose one myself. "

"But that isn't fair. I let you select any one you liked. "

She thought it over, then somewhat reluctantly held out three envelops. It was so evident that she was trying to keep back the bulky one withthe bold address that Percival instantly selected it. 

"Some of it's secrets, " she warned him, "and you mustn't peep. "

"Of course not. But who is it from?"

"That wasn't in the game. I didn't ask you. "

"You didn't need to; but go ahead. "

"It's all about the ranch, " said Bobby, looking over the pagesand smiling to herself. "They've had an awful row with the newbroncho-buster, and Hal had to punch his head for being cruel to thehorses. I knew that fellow wasn't any good. " She read on for a whileto herself. "Says the shooting promises to be great this year. My! butI hate to miss it!"

"Whatever do you find to shoot?"

"A little of everything from teal duck to Canada goose. "

"Really!" exclaimed Percival, with interest. "And do you shoot?"

"Oh, yes, some. I'm not as good as the boys. You see, I have to use PaJoe's old No. 10 choke-bore shot-gun, when I really ought to have a16-bore fowling-piece. "

Here was a new and wholly unsuspected bond of sympathy between them. Percival would have plunged at once into a dissertation on a subjectupon which he considered himself an authority had not the flutteringsheets of the letter stirred vague misgivings in his bosom. 

"You aren't playing fair!" he cried. "You are telling me what is in yourletter without reading it to me. "

"So I am!" She looked over page after page. "Here, this will do. Itsays: 'I wish you could have been along last night when I hit the trailfor the Lower Ranch. You know what that old road looks like in themoonlight, all deep black in the gorges, and white on the cliffs, andnot a dog-gone sound but the hoof-beats of your horse and the clank ofthe bridle-chains. Why, when you come out in the open and the wind getsto ripping 'cross the grass-fields, and the moon gets busy with everylittle old blade, and there's miles of beauty stretched out far as youreye can reach, I'd back it against any sight in the world. Only lastnight I wasn't thinking much about the scenery. I was thinking--'"Bobby stopped short, declaring that she had a cinder in her eye. 

"Can't be a cinder, out here in the bay, " protested Percival. 

"Well, it's whatever they have out here. "

"And sha'n't I ever know what your friend was thinking?"

"He was probably thinking of his dinner, " said Bobby, gazing at himreassuringly with her free eye. 

After she had departed to make sure that the steamer got properly underway, he tortured himself with suspicions. What possible secrets couldshe have with this unknown friend, who waxed sentimental over moonlittrails and wind-swept grassfields? Had not some one told him of anunhappy love-affair? He searched his memory. Suddenly there came to himthe disturbing figure of a stalwart young man on a broncho, with leatheroveralls, jingling spurs, a silk handkerchief knotted about his throat, and a pair of keen, humorous eyes lighting up a sun-bronzed face. 

Then he smiled at his quick alarm. Hadn't she told him it was one of herfoster-brothers, one of those lads whom he persisted in regarding aschildren? It was the most natural thing in the world that an impulsive, big-hearted creature like Bobby would be on terms of affectionateintimacy with those boys with whom she had been brought up. 

He did not feel fully reassured, however, until he put the question toher flatly:

"That letter you were reading me, " he said at his first opportunity--"youwon't mind telling me if it is from that chap I saw at the station?"

"I don't mind telling you. But you mustn't tell the captain. "

"The captain? Oh, to be sure. Doesn't fancy your friends, the Fords. Iremember. "

From that time on he boldly and openly entered the lists for Bobby'sfavor. The ten days he had allowed himself to drift with the tide of hisinclination were passing with incredible swiftness, and he resorted toevery means, from the subtlest strategy to the most domineeringinsolence, to monopolize every waking moment of her time. 

She responded to all his suggestions with flattering promptness untilpreparations were set on foot to hold a huge gymkhana, in whicheverybody on board should take part. The enterprise fired her enthusiasminstantly. She was a born organizer, and the prospect of a whole daydevoted to sports captivated her. The project served as a peg on whichshe and Percival hung their first quarrel. 

"Of course I'm going into it, " she exclaimed hotly, "and so are you. "

"The idea!" said Percival. "I shouldn't think of it for a moment. Fancyme chasing an egg around the deck in a teaspoon, and all that sort ofthing!"

"But there are lots of other contests. There's the long jump, and thetug-of-war--"

"And pinning tails on donkeys, " added Percival, bitterly. "Dare sayyou'd like to see me doing that. "

"I'd like to see you doing anything that would make you more sociable, "flashed Bobby. 

For the rest of the day Percival sulked in the smoking-room, raging atthe time that was stolen from him, and given to the making of sillyrules and the buying of trifling prizes. 

On the morning of the sports he arrayed himself in one of the whitecreations of G. Lung Fat's, giving special attention to the accessoriesof his toilet. Then, with marked indifference to the games, which werethe all-absorbing topic of the day, he had his chair moved to the farside of the deck, and sat there in superior isolation during the wholemorning. 

But even there he could not avoid hearing what was taking place; shoutsof laughter, groans, and jeers over a failure, and frantic applause overa victory, were wafted to him constantly. Now and then some one hurriedby with the information that Andy Black had won the quoits prize or thatAndy Black had won the bottle-race. His lip curled contemptuously atsports that required a mere trickster's turn of the wrist or an animal'ssense of direction. He would like to see Andy attempt a long jump or amile race. Imagine the fat pink-and-white youth on a polo pony!

At luncheon Andy's praises were passed from lip to lip. The affairhad assumed an international significance. A Scotchman, a German, aJapanese, and an American were striving for first place. The captain'spatriotism ran so high that he offered to set up the handsomest dinnerthe Astor Hotel in Shanghai could afford if Andy came out victorious. 

In vain Percival sought to hold Bobby's attention. The tapers in hereyes were lighted for Andy, and he was obliged to undergo the new andintolerable sensation of sitting in a darkened niche and watching thecandles burn at an adjoining shrine. 

The slightest hint of deflection in one upon whom he had bestowed hisfavor maddened him. He had showered upon this ungrateful girl attentionsthe very husks of which would have sustained several English girls heknew through a lifetime of patient waiting. He recalled their unswervingloyalty with a glow at his heart. 

Ah, he thought, one must look to England for ideal womanhood. Where elsewas to be found that beautiful deference, that blind reliance, thatunswerving loyalty--At the word "loyalty" a stabbing memory of LadyHortense punctured his eloquence. 

During the afternoon he found it impossible to escape the games. Thepotato and three-legged races brought the contestants to his side of thedeck, and his reading was constantly interrupted by an avalanche ofnoisy spectators who rushed through the cross passages from one side ofthe boat to the other, exhibiting a perfectly ridiculous amount ofexcitement. 

Andy, it seemed, had only one more entry to win before claiming theday's championship. 

"He'll get it!" Percival overheard the captain saying gleefully to Mrs. Weston. "None of 'em are in it with America when it comes to sports. "

Percival flicked the ashes from his cigar, and, carefully adjusting histie, rose, and made his way to the judges' table. 

"How many more events are there?" he asked in a superior tone. 

"One, " was the answer. 

"How many entries?"

"Two. Mr. Black and the Scotch gentleman. "

"Make it three, " said Percival, as if he were ordering cocktails. 

In the confusion of preparing for the last and most elaborate feature ofthe day, Percival's enlistment was not discovered. It was not until thecontestants ranged themselves in front of the judges' table that a buzzof fresh interest and amazement swept the deck. First came the Scot, lean, wiry, and deadly determined; then came Andy, plump and pink, withhis fair hair ruffled, and a laughing retort on his lips for every sallythat was sent in his direction. Last came the Honorable Percival, adistinguished figure in immaculate array, wearing upon his aristocraticfeatures a look of contemptuous superiority. 

"What are the rules of the game?" he inquired, looking into space. 

"There's just one rule, " called Captain Boynton from thebackground--"Get there. "

"The American motto, I believe, " said Percival, quietly, and the crowdlaughed. 

The Scot was the first to start, and Percival watched anxiously to seethe nature of the race he had entered. He saw his adversary dash forwardas the signal sounded, climb over a pile of upturned chairs, scrambleunder a table, scale a high net fence, then disappear around the deck, only to emerge later from the mouth of a funnel-shaped tunnel, throughwhich his contortions had been followed by shrieks of merriment. 

Percival realized too late what he had let himself in for. Not forworlds would he have subjected himself to such buffoonery had he known. It was not the sport of a gentleman; it was the play of a circus clown!He watched with horrified disgust as the Scot's grimy face and tousledhead emerged from the canvas cavern. 

"Four minutes and five seconds, " called the umpire. 

Andy Black stepped confidently forward amid a burst of applause. 

"The champion Roly-Poly of the Pacific, " some one called. 

"The _Saluria's_ Little Sunbeam, " suggested another. 

Andy smiled blandly, and kissed his fingertips. The signal sounded, andhe bounded off, bouncing from one obstacle to another like a rubberball. It was only in the twenty-yard dash from the net fence to thecanvas tunnel that he lost ground. 

"Four minutes, two seconds, " announced the umpire as Andy scrambled outon all fours. 

At that moment Percival would willingly have exchanged places with thegrimiest stoker in the hold. Was it possible that he had, of his ownaccord, placed himself in this absurd and undignified position for thesole purpose of defeating a common, commercial traveler who had dared todeflect the natural course of a certain damsel's smiles! He writhedunder the ignominy of it. What if he were defeated? What if--

The signal sounded, and instinctively he hurled himself forward. As hescrambled over the upturned chairs he heard a sound that struck terrorto his soul: it was the unmistakable hiss of tearing linen. The hastilymade garments of G. Lung Fat had proved unequal to the strain put uponthem. Percival lost his head completely when he realized that hiswaistcoat was split up the back from hem to collar, and that he hadbecome an object of the wildest hilarity. 

He might have fled the scene then and there, leaving Andy to enjoyhis laurels undisturbed, had he not caught sight of Bobby franticallymotioning him to go on. Setting his teeth grimly, he went down on allfours and scrambled under the table, then resolutely tackled thatswaying, sagging network of ropes that barred his progress. Again andagain he got nearly to the top, only to have his foot go through thewide bars and leave him hanging there in the most awkward and ungainlyposition. It seemed to him an eternity that he hung ignominiously, likea fly in a spider's web, while the crowd went wild with merriment. 

Then suddenly all his fighting blood rose, and forgetting thespectators, and even forgetting Bobby, he doggedly grappled with thoseyielding ropes until he got a foothold, swung himself over the top, cleared the entanglement below, and made a flying dash for the yawningmouth of canvas at the far end of the deck. It was incredibly hot andsuffocating inside, but he wriggled frantically forward, clawing andkicking like a crab. At last a dim light ahead spurred him to one finalgallant effort. 

"Four minutes!" called the umpire as the Honorable Percival Hascombeemerged, blinking and breathless, and staggered to his feet. His clotheswere soiled and torn, his hair was on end, there was dust in his eyes, and dirt in his mouth. 

The fickle audience went wild. The dark horse had won, and public favorimmediately swung in his direction. But it was not the favor of thepublic that Percival sought; it was the homage of a certain rebelliousmaiden, who must be taught that he was the master of any situation inwhich he found himself. 

Bobby was not slow to proffer her congratulations. She gave them withboth hands, to say nothing of her eyes and her dimple. 

"I pulled for you!" she whispered eagerly. "I almost prayed for you. Iwouldn't have seen you beaten for the world. "

As Percival, elated by her enthusiasm, stood shaking hands right andleft, he felt a curious and unfamiliar warmth stealing over him. Allthese people whom he had looked upon until to-day as so many figureheadsstalking about suddenly became human beings. He found, to his surprise, that he knew their names and they knew his. He sat on a table, swinginghis feet in unison with a lot of other young feet, while he sippedlemonade from the same glass as Bobby Boynton. 

[Illustration: He sat on a table swinging his feet in unison with a lotof other young feet, while he sipped lemonade from the same glass asBobby Boynton. ]

As a matter of fact, the Honorable Percival Hascombe was experiencing anovel sensation. He was enjoying a sense of fellowship, to which all hislife he had been a stranger. 

XII

THE SONG OF THE SIREN

By the time the _Saluria_ anchored off Shanghai, the fires inPercival's bosom had assumed the proportions of a conflagration. Nosooner were they seemingly conquered by the cold stream of reason thatwas poured upon them than they broke forth again with fresh and alarmingviolence. 

On the launch coming up the Hwang-pu River he took the precaution ofengaging Bobby Boynton's company not only for the day on shore, but forthe evening as well. With hardened effrontery he bore the young ladyaway in exactly the high-handed manner so bitterly condemned in AndyBlack at Yokohama. 

The day on shore was one he was destined never to forget. The glamour ofit suffused even material old China with a roseate hue. With graciouscondescension he visited gaily decked temples and many-storied pagodas, he loitered in silk and porcelain shops, and wound in and out of narrow, ill-smelling streets, even allowing Bobby to conduct him through thatamazing quarter known as Pig Alley. He not only submitted to all thesediversions; he demanded more. He seemed to have developed an ambition toleave no place of interest in or about Shanghai unvisited. 

Tiffin-time found them at a well-known tea-house in Nanking Road--atea-house with golden dragons climbing over its walls and long woodensigns bearing cabalistic figures swinging in the wind like so manybanners. Percival secured a table on the upper balcony, where they couldlook down on the passing throng, and here in the intimate solitude of aforeign crowd they had their lunch. 

Bobby was too excited to eat; she hung over the balcony, exclaiming atevery new sight and sound, and appealing to Percival constantly forenlightenment. Fortunately he had spent part of the previous day poringover a Shanghai guide-book, so he was able to meet her inquiries withthe most amazing satisfaction. 

"I don't see how any one human being can know as much as you do!" sheexclaimed, with a look that Buddha might have envied. 

"Even I make mistakes occasionally, " said Percival, modestly. "Can'talways be right, you know. "

"But you are, " she persisted; "you are always abominably right, and I amalways wrong. "

"Adorably wrong, " amended Percival, assisting with the tea-things. 

"Two, three, four?" she asked, holding up the sugar-tongs. 

"Doesn't matter so long as I have you to look at. "

Now, when an Englishman ceases to be particular about the amount ofsugar in his tea, you may know he is very far gone indeed. By the timehe had drained three cups of the jasmine-scented beverage and basked inthe brilliance of Bobby's smiles through the smoking of two cigars, hewas feeling decidedly heady. 

"If we are going to the races, we really _must_ start, " declaredBobby when she found the situation getting difficult. 

"What's the use of going anywhere?" asked Percival, blowing one ring ofsmoke through another. 

"Why, we are seeing the sights of Shanghai. You said you were crazyabout China. "

"So I am. You are quite determined on the races?"

"Quite, " said Bobby. 

Their way to the track lay along the famous Bubbling Well Road, and asthey bowled along in a somewhat imposing victoria, with a couple ofliveried Chinamen on the box, Bobby sat bolt upright, her cheeksflushed, and her eager eyes drinking in the sights. 

It was a scene sufficiently gay to hold the interest of a much moresophisticated person than the untraveled young lady from Wyoming. Thewhole of society, it appeared, was on route to the races. The road wasthronged with smart traps full of brilliantly dressed people of everynationality. There were gay parties from the various legations, French, Russian, Japanese, German, English, American. In and out among thewhirling wheels of the foreigners poured the unending procession ofnative life, unperturbed, unconcerned. A Chinese lady in black satintrousers and gorgeous embroidered coat, wearing a magnificent head-dressof jade and pearls, rode side by side with a coolie who trundled awheelbarrow which carried his wife on one side and his week's provisionson the other. Water-carriers, street vendors, jinrikisha-runners, womenwith bound feet, children on foot, and children strapped on the backs oftheir mothers, crossed and recrossed, surged in and out. 

But the Honorable Percival concerned himself little with these pettydetails. To him China was only a pleasing background for Miss RobertaBoynton; he saw no further than her eager, smiling eyes, and heardnothing more distant than the ripple of her laughter. 

At the races they found an absorbing bond of interest. The love ofhorse-flesh was ingrained in both, and the merits of the various poniesprovoked endless discussion. Lights were beginning to twinkle on thebund when they drove back to the hotel. 

"Where shall we go to-night!" asked Percival, as eager at the end ofthis eight hours' tête-à-tête as he had been at the start. 

"To the ball, of course, " said Bobby. "The hotel is giving it in honorof the _Saluria_. "

"Heavens! what a bore! Can't we dodge it?"

"You can if you want to. Andy'll take me. He's just waiting to see ifyou renig. "

"Renig?" repeated Percival. 

"Yes, " said Bobby--"fluke, back out; you know what I mean. "

That settled it with Percival. Five minutes before the hour appointed hewas waiting impatiently in one of the small reception-rooms to conductMiss Boynton to that most abhorred of all functions, a public ball. Whatpossible pleasure he was going to get out of standing against the walland watching her dance with other men he could not conceive. He assuredhimself that he was acting like a fool, and that if he kept on at thepace he was going, Heaven only knew what folly he might commit in thefour days that must pass before he reached Hong-Kong. 

Hong-Kong! The word had but one association for him. It was the home ofhis eldest and most conservative sister, a lady of uncompromising socialstandards, who recognized only two circles of society, the one overwhich her mother presided in London, and the smaller one over which shereigned as the wife of the British diplomatic official in the land ofher adoption. 

At the mere thought of presenting Bobby to this paragon of socialperfection, Percival shuddered. He could imagine Sister Cordelia'spitiless survey of the girl through her lorgnette, the lifting of herbrows over some mortal sin against taste or some deadly transgression inher manner of speech. Of course, he assured himself it would never do;the idea of bringing them together was wholly preposterous. And yet--

A Chinese youth, with a handful of trinkets, slipped into the room, andfurtively proffered his wares. 

"Very good, number-one jade-stone. Make missy velly plitty. Can buy?"

Percival motioned him away, only to have him return. 

"Jade-stone velly nice! Plitty young missy wanchee jade-stone. "

"Did she say she wanted it?" demanded Percival, with sudden interest. 

The boy grinned. "Oh, yes. Wanchee heap! No have got fifty dollar'. Master have got. Wanchee buy?"

Percival tossed him the money and lay the pendant on the table. Then heresumed his pacing and his disturbed meditations. If he could only keephimself firmly in hand during those next four days, all would be well. Once safely anchored in the harbor of his sister's eminently properEnglish circle, the song of the siren would doubtless fade away, and hewould thank Heaven fervently for his miraculous escape. Meanwhile helistened with increasing impatience for the first flutter of the siren'swings, "Wanchee Manchu coatt?" whispered an insidious voice at his elbow, and, looking down, he saw the enterprising lad with a pile of gorgeous silksover his arm and cupidity writ large in his narrow eyes. 

"No, no; go away!" commanded Percival. 

"Velly fine dragon coat. Him all same b'long mandarin. How much?"

Percival turned away, but at every step was presented with anothergarment for inspection. Despite himself, his artistic eye was caught andheld by the beauty of the fabrics. 

"How much?" he asked, picking up a marvelous affair of silver and gray, lined with the faintest of shell pinks. It was the exact tone and sheento set Bobby's beauty off to the greatest advantage. The argument overthe price was short and fierce, and Percival laid the coat beside thependant on the table. 

He promised himself to offset the effect of these gifts by a moredetached and impersonal manner than he had shown Bobby during the day. So far, he congratulated himself, he had given her no occasion for falsehopes. On the contrary, he had gone out of his way on several occasionsto express his bitter disapproval of international marriages. When thehour came for them to part, his heart might be mortally wounded, but hisconscience, save for a few scratches, would be uninjured. 

A quick step in the corridor made him look up. Standing in the doorwaywas a vision of girlish beauty that had the acrobatic effect of sendinghis blood into his head and his heart into his eyes. She wore thediaphanous gown of white that he liked best, her hair was coiled at theexact angle he had prescribed, and at her belt were the orchids he hadsent up half an hour before. No rhinestones in her hair, no gold beadson her slippers, nothing to mar the simplicity that her all too vividbeauty required. Percival's eyes appraised her at her full value. EvenSister Cordelia would have been propitiated by the sight. 

"What's this lovely thing?" cried Bobby, pouncing upon the coat. 

"Something I bought to be rid of a troublesome lad. Don't know what Ishall do with it, exactly. "

"Take it to your sister, of course, "

"She probably has heaps of them. "

Bobby slipped her round, bare arms into the loose sleeves, and surveyedherself in the long mirror. 

"Isn't that the prettiest thing you ever saw?" she asked, glancing athim over her shoulder. 

[Illustration: "Isn't that the prettiest thing you ever saw?" she asked, glancing at him over her shoulder]

"It is, " said Percival, emphatically. His judgment about thebecomingness of the color had, us usual, been unerring. 

"I should be no end grateful, " he said, "if you'd take it off my hands. My trunks are fearfully stuffed now. "

"But I haven't any money, " said Bobby, with characteristic frankness;"besides, we don't need things like that in Cheyenne. "

"Silly girl! Do you think I have turned merchant, and have got wares forsale? The coat is for you. "

Bobby gave a cry of delight, then she looked up dubiously. 

"But is it all right for me to take a present like this? I never hadanything so big given me--yes, I did, too!" She laughed. "A fellow fromMedicine Bow sent me a barrel of mixed fruit once, with nuts and raisinsin between, and ten pounds of candy on top!"

"Then why scruple at my gift?"

Her brow clouded. "But you said girls oughtn't to take things from menthey weren't engaged to. You remember that day on deck you got me togive back Andy's scarf-pin?"

Percival cleared his throat. 

"Quite a different matter, " he said; "now, between you and me--"

Bobby shook her head as she took off the coat. 

"No, I guess not. I want it so bad I can taste it, but I think you'dbetter keep it for somebody in the family. "

Percival slipped the jade pendant into his waistcoat pocket, and tossedthe coat on a chair. 

"As you like, " he said. "Shall we go to the ball-room?"

In his secret soul he was inordinately gratified. Of course she shouldnot have accepted the coat, and he should not have tempted her. She haddone exactly right in firmly adhering to his former instructions. Altogether she was a remarkable little person indeed. 

The moment they appeared in the ballroom she was confiscated, and he hada miserable quarter of an hour watching her whirl from one masculine armto another. For the first time dancing struck him as pernicious. Hedeclared that the clergy had something on its side when it denounced theamusement as evil. He doubted gravely if he should ever permit a wife ofhis to dance. 

"Mr. Hascombe, aren't you going to ask me to dance?" It was Bobby whohad stopped before him, flushed and breathless. 

"I don't dance at public balls, " he said disapprovingly. 

"Why not?" asked Bobby, in surprise. 

"Hardly the thing. A person in my position, you know--"

"You mean because of the Honorable? How stupid! Let's pretend you aren'tone just for to-night!"

"But I don't dance these dances, you see. "

"That doesn't matter; I'll teach you. "

"Really, now, I can't make a spectacle of myself. "

"Nobody wants you to. We'll practise out here in the loggia. Comeahead!"

He was seized by two small, determined hands and drawn this way andthat, apparently without the slightest method. 

"But I haven't the vaguest idea what to do with my feet, " he protestedhelplessly. 

"Don't do anything with them; let them do something with you. Shut youreyes and listen to the music; let it get into your bones, and the firstthing you know you will be doing it. "

With British solemnity Percival closed his eyes and tried to feel themusic. Suddenly he was aware that he was moving in rhythm to theinsistent beat of the drum. 

"That's it!" cried Bobby, excitedly. "You are doing the Grape-Vine; letyourself go. That's it!"

So intent was he upon keeping out of time instead of in it, that hewas guided from the loggia into the ball-room before he knew it. Hisawakening came when a firm hand was laid upon his shoulder. He stoppedindignantly. The ship's doctor had not only arrested the development ofhis new-found talent, but was actually dancing off with his partner!

"Most unwarrantable impertinence!" he stormed to the Scotchman, whom hejoined at the door. "Clapped me on the shoulder quite as if I had beenunder suspicion for felony. Almost expected to hear him say, 'My man, you're wanted. ' I shall demand satisfaction of the cub the instant thedance is over. "

The Scotchman laughed. "He meant ye no harm. It's a trick they have inthe States of changing partners. Watch the game; ye'll see. "

"And I can take any man's partner away by simply laying my hand on hisshoulder?"

This changed the complexion of things considerably. The HonorablePercival spent the remainder of the evening laying his hand upon theshoulder of whosoever claimed Bobby for a dance. 

It was remarkable with what facility he acquired the new steps. He knewthat he had a good figure and that he carried it with distinction. Theadmiring glances that followed his entrance into any public assemblymade him pleasantly aware of the fact. To-night, however, if any of histhoughts turned upon himself, they were but stragglers from the mainarmy that marched in solid file under Bobby's banner. 

During the intervals when he could not dance with her he retired tothe loggia, and thought about her. She was not only the most beautifulcreature he had ever seen, but the most adorably responsive. He likenedher poetically to an Æolian harp and himself to the wind. 

No one, not even his fond mother, had accepted him so implicitly athis own valuation as Bobby. Other women frequently insisted upon theirown interpretations. He looked upon this as a form of disloyalty. Lady Hortense had once decried his taste for Tennyson; that, and herpersistent use of a perfume which he disliked had been symbolic to himof a difference in temperament. Bobby had no predilections for perfumesor poets. She blindly accepted his judgment of all things, and if shesometimes failed to conform to his wishes, it was through forgetfulnessand not opposition. He gloried in her plasticity; after all, was it notamong the chief of feminine virtues?

While he paced the loggia and thus recounted her charms, he becameincreasingly intolerant of the fact that his Æolian harp was being sweptby _various_ winds. He thirsted for a complete monopoly of hersmiles, of all her glances, grave and gay, of the thousand and onelittle looks and gestures that he had quite unwarrantably come to lookupon as his own. 

After all, why should he consider his family before himself? Why shouldhe ever go back to England at all? It was the most daring thought he hadever had, and for a moment it staggered him. Lines from "Locksley Hall"began ringing in his ears:

 ". .. Oh for some retreat Deep in yonder shining-Orient when; my life began to heat: Larger constellations burning, mellow moons and happy skies, Breadths of tropic shady, and palms in clusters, Knots of Paradise. There the passions, cramp'd no longer, shall have scope and breathing space; I will take some savage woman--"

Of course, he told himself, Bobby wasn't exactly a savage woman; butthen again she was, you know, in a way. She was from the point of viewof Sister Cordelia. But why consult Sister Cordelia at all? Why not seeksome "blossomed bower in dark purple spheres of sea"? Not in China; itwas too beastly smelly. Not in Japan; mosquitos. Not in America; never!It should be some South Sea Island, where they would dwell, "the worldforgetting, and by the world forgot. "

Once an Englishman slips the leash of his sentiment and quotes even aline of poetry, it carries him far afield. In this case it led Percivala headlong chase over walls of tradition and barriers of pride. Hebegrudged every moment that must elapse before he had Bobby to himself, and told her of his great decision. 

"But isn't it too late to be taking a walk?" she protested when the lastdance was over, and he was urging a turn on the bund. 

"Just a breath of fresh air. Won't take five minutes. Where's yourwrap?"

"I haven't any but my steamer-coat. I don't suppose you could standthat. "

"You will wear the Manchu coat, " said Percival, with tender authority;"there's every reason why you should. "

XIII

PERCIVAL PROCRASTINATES

The little park that stretched between the bund and the water-front waydeserted save for a few isolated couples who had strolled out from thehotel to cool off after the heat of the ball-room. Percival and Bobbyfound a vine-clad summer-house where they could watch the tall shipsriding at anchor in the bay, their riding-lights swaying amid the morestationary stars. Closer to the water were the bobbing lights of thesleeping junks, while behind them twinkled the myriad lights of thatvast native city the hem of whose garment they were merely touching. 

The setting was all that Percival's fastidious taste could desire, butnow that he had "the time and the place and the loved one all together, "he found an epicure's delight in lingering over his rapture. This hourhad a flavor, a bouquet, that no other hour would ever contain, and hepreferred to sip it deliriously moment by moment. He coaxed her to talkat length about himself, to put into her own words the impressions hehad made upon her mentally, morally, and physically. He never tired ofbeholding in the mirror of her mind the very images he had placed beforeit. 

"You are a perfect little wizard!" he exclaimed in ecstasy. "You read melike a book. Quite sure you aren't cold!"

"No, " said Bobby; "but I'm getting awfully sleepy. "

His pride took instant alarm. After all, it was not the hour to presshis suit. He rose, and tenderly drew the shining folds of her wrap abouther. 

"I shall take you in. Can't allow you to lose your roses, you know. To-morrow I must take better care of you. "

Bobby gave a sleepy little laugh. 

"What is it!" he asked. 

"I was just thinking how mad we are making the captain. He wouldn'tspeak to me all through dinner. "

"I shall have a word to say to the captain to-morrow that will quitechange his attitude. "

"What sort of a word?"

"Can't you guess?"

Before Bobby could answer, their attention was arrested by angry shoutsin the street behind them. A drunken sailor, evidently from an Englishgunboat, was in fierce altercation with his jinrikisha-man, and wasannouncing to the world, in language compounded of all the oaths in hisvocabulary, that he wished to be condemned to Hades if any morepumpkin-headed, pig-tailed Chinks got another bob out of his pocket. 

Percival was for hurrying his precious charge past the belligerents andinto the hotel, but Bobby insisted upon seeing the end of it. 

"That sailor is fixing to get into trouble, " she cried. "He doesn't knowwhat he is doing or saying. "

"I dare say he'll manage very well, " said Percival, urging her on. 

"But he _isn't_ managing, He's making the coolie furious. Don't lethim hit at him like that! See, he's caught hold of his queue!"

The patient Chinaman had received the supreme insult, and in a second hehad flashed a short knife from his belt, and was lunging at the stupid, upturned face of the half-recumbent sailor. 

Percival sprang forward and seized the descending arm. He was not quickenough to arrest the force of the blow, but he succeeded in deflectingits course, and the blade, which would have given the sailor a decentburial at sea, sharply grazed Percival's wrist, and buried itself in theside of the jinrikisha. 

It was all so quickly done that by the time a crowd collected and thebig Sikh policeman arrived in his yellow clothes and huge striped turbanPercival had got Bobby safely into the hotel lobby. He was exasperatedbeyond measure that this very evening, of all, should have ended in hisparticipation in a vulgar street brawl. So far he had succeeded inkeeping Bobby from knowing that he was wounded, but the beastly scratchwas bleeding furiously, and he had to keep his hand behind, him toprevent her from seeing it. 

They hurried through the empty lobby and down the long corridor that ledto the elevator. Bobby was full of excitement over the recent adventureand the part Percival had played in it. 

"My, but you were quick!" she said as they went up on the elevator. "Ihad just time to shut my eyes and open them again, and it was all over. "

"Nothing to speak of, " said Percival, twisting his handkerchief tighteraround his throbbing wrist. 

"But you don't mind my being proud of you, do you?" asked Bobby as theelevator stopped at his floor. "When I see a man show courage like that, I just feel as if--as if I'd like to squeeze him. "

Percival's left hand shot out and caught hers to his lips. 

"Why, Mr. Hascombe!" she cried "What's the matter with your arm? No, I mean the other one. "

"A mere scratch. "

"But your sleeve's cut, and the handkerchief is all blood-stained. Whydidn't you tell me you were hurt?"

"I assure you it is nothing. Quite all right in the morning. Breakfastwith you at nine. Happy dreams!"

Bobby was not to be so easily put off. She insisted upon following himout of the elevator and inspecting the wound, "Why, it's dreadful!" she cried. "And it must have been bleeding likethis for five minutes! Quick! Where's your room?"

"But really, my dear girl, I can't allow this. You must get back intothe lift straight away and go up to your room. "

"I sha'n't do anything of the sort until you get Judson or a doctor orsomebody. "

Percival would have carried his point but for a certain dizziness thathad come over him. He put out a hand to steady himself. 

"Give me your key!" he heard Bobby saying, and the next instant his doorwas flung open, the lights were switched on, and he was staggeringblindly toward the couch at the foot of the bed. Then there was afurious ringing of bells, a long wait, followed by the appearance ofa sleepy Chinese night watchman. 

"Gentleman hurt!" cried Bobby. "Get a doctor! Send somebody up herequick! Do you understand?"

"Me savvy, " said the Chinaman, calmly. "Doctor no belong Astor Hotel. All same belong Oliental Hotel. "

"I don't care where he belongs, " Bobby cried impatiently. "Get him overthe telephone. And send somebody up from the office, do you understand?"

"Oh, yes, me savvy, " he said, with the imperturbability of his race. 

Percival heard the man's footsteps dying in the distance, and he made amighty effort to rouse himself. 

"Silly of me to behave like this. Quite all right now, thanks. You mustrun away before any one comes. "

"Why?" demanded Bobby. 

"Looks rather queer your being here like this at midnight, you know. Wouldn't compromise you for the world. "

Bobby was standing at his dressing-table searching for something, andshe wheeled upon him indignantly. 

"This is no time to be thinking about looks. You lie down and stoptalking. Hold your arm up straight, like that. Keep it that way untilI come. "

He did as she told him, grasping his right wrist in his left hand; butthe bright-red blood continued to spurt through his fingers, showing nosigns of abating. 

"If I could only find a string!" cried Bobby, tossing the contents ofhis bag this way and that. "Here's the strap on your toilet-case;perhaps it'll do. "

She knelt beside the couch, and, ripping his sleeve to the elbow, hastily wrapped the leather thong twice about his forearm and slippedthe strap into the buckle. 

"I've got to hurt you, " she said resolutely, pulling with nervousstrength. 

"It's most awfully good of you, " murmured Percival, wearily, setting histeeth and closing his eyes. Despite the pain, the drowsiness was gettingthe better of him. He felt himself sinking through space, away from theworld, from himself, and, worst of all, from the tender, reassuringvoice that kept whispering words of comfort in his ear. 

From time to time he was aware of bellboys coming and going, and ofapparently futile inquiries for Judson, for the doctor, for Mrs. Weston, for the captain. Then for a long time he was aware of nothing whatever. 

A sudden sharp pain in his arm roused him, and he opened his eyes. Bobbystill knelt on the floor beside him, unflinchingly holding the strap inplace. 

"I won't have this!" he cried, struggling to sit up. "Your lips aretrembling. It's making you ill. "

She laid her free hand on his shoulder. 

"Please lie still! They'll be here in a minute. I thought I heard theelevator. It won't be much longer. "

There was the sound of hurrying feet in the hall, and the next instanta quick rap at the door. Bobby looked up with great relief as a burlyEnglish physician bustled into the room. 

"How long have you had the tourniquet on, Madam?" he asked, strippingoff his gloves and falling to work. 

"The what?" said Bobby. 

"The strap on his arm?"

"Oh, since a quarter past twelve. " She got up from her knees stiffly, and shook out the shining folds of the Manchu coat. "It was the onlything I could think of; it's what the boys do back home for arattlesnake bite. "

The doctor's glance expressed complete and unqualified approval, butwhether it was for her course of action or her very lovely and disturbedappearance it would be hard to say. As she slipped out of the room heturned to Percival. 

"It's a severed artery, sir; no special harm done except the loss ofblood. A few days' rest--"

"But I am sailing in the morning, " murmured Percival. "Must patch me upby that time. "

"We shall see. You don't seem to realize that you stood an excellentchance of remaining permanently in Shanghai. "

"You mean?"

"I mean that you owe your life to that plucky little wife of yours. "

Percival's heart leaped at the word. "She's not my wife, Doctor, " hesaid, smiling feebly, "not yet. "

XIV

NEPTUNE TAKES A HAND

The evolution of a hero is seldom a gradual process; he usually springsinto public favor suddenly and dramatically. Not so with the HonorablePercival. He had to scramble ignominiously on all fours through a canvastunnel, he had to brave the smiles of the on-lookers while he learnednew steps on the ball-room floor, he had to participate in a streetfight and have an artery severed before he was accorded the honor ofa pedestal. 

Bobby's graphic account of his defense of the drunken sailor, togetherwith his own vigorous disavowal of any heroism in the affair, won forhim a halo. After months of tedious anchorage in the dull harbor ofseclusion, he found himself once more afloat on a sea of approval, tasting again the sweet savor of adulation, and spreading his sails tocatch each passing breath of admiration. 

Reclining in his deck-chair, with his arm in a sling and a becomingpallor suffusing his classic features, he became an object of thegreatest solicitude to his fellow-passengers. The fluttering attentionshe received warmed him into geniality, and in return he dispensed regalfavors. He allowed Mrs. Weston to consult him concerning herpresentation at court the following spring, he let Andy Black arrangehis tie, and permitted Elise Weston to cut the leaves of his magazine. He graciously submitted to endless inquiries concerning his hourlyprogress, and even went so far as to accept two cream peppermints fromthe old missionary, who had acquired a new box. 

The only drawback to this feast of brotherly love lay in the fact thathe could not obtain the tête-a-tête he so earnestly desired with BobbyBoynton. She was always with him, to be sure, but so was everybody else, especially Mrs. Weston, who had been officially appointed to stand guardover the situation. 

The captain had been stung to active measure by a chance remark of AndyBlack's when they were alone at breakfast. 

"Accept my condolences, " that youth had lugubriously remarked. "You havemissed the chance of your young life. "

"How's that?" asked the captain. 

"By not getting me for a son-in-law. Miss Bobby broke the news to me atthe dance last night. "

"Did she give you a reason?" asked the captain, arresting his cup inmid-air. 

"I didn't need one. I've been rooming with it ever since we leftHonolulu. "

"She didn't say it was--"

"Oh, she as good as told me. Same old chestnut I've been handed out allmy life. Said she cared for somebody else, but that she'd never forgetme. I can't see much satisfaction in occupying a pigeon-hole in a girl'sheart when, another fellow's got the key to it. "

The captain, was concerned with something far more serious than Andy'smatrimonial failures. 

"What makes you think it's Hascombe?" he asked. 

"What makes everybody think so?" asked Andy. "What makes him think sohimself?"

The captain lost no time in finding Mrs. Weston, and laying the casebefore her. 

"He's got to be headed off, " he said anxiously. "It 's getting serious. "

"It certainly looks so after yesterday and last night. But I can't forthe life of me see why you oppose it. He's really a tremendous catch, and it's no wonder Bobby's head is turned. We are all a bit daft overhim since he condescended to notice us. "

"Suffering Moses!" exploded the captain. "Let any fool come along andshed a few drops of blood, then kiss his hand to the grand stand, andhe's got the women at his feet! I thought Bobby had more sense than tocotton to that gilded rooster. I've a good mind to lock her up in herstateroom until we reach Hong-Kong. "

Mrs. Weston shook her head and smiled. 

"You can't manage her that way. She is the sweetest thing that ever was, but she is the kind of girl that can't be forced. "

"Well, she shall be!" cried the captain, with savage determination. "Iheaded her off once, and I'll do it again. I tell you, I'd rather seeher dead than married to an Englishman. "

"Why, Captain Boynton!"

"I would. It's the Lord's truth. Her mother before her got caught byjust such a high-headed British fool. She was welcome to him, and he toher, though Heaven knows she paid for it. If I thought my girl was goingthe same way--"

His square jaw quivered suddenly, and he turned away abruptly. 

Mrs. Weston was wise enough to keep silent until he had masteredhimself, then she said kindly:

"I don't wonder you feel as you do. You leave the matter to me, and I'lldo my best to keep things in abeyance until we reach Hong-Kong. Oncethey are separated, the danger is practically over. "

It is doubtful, however, whether the combined efforts of the captain, Mrs. Weston, and even Percival himself could have kept things _instatu quo_ had a timely typhoon not arrived and taken things into itsown hands. It was about four in the afternoon that the sky darkened andthe bright blue water turned to gray. The wind shifted and came on toblow dead ahead. 

"What a queer light there is on everything!" cried Mrs. Weston, who wasdutifully stationed between Bobby and Percival, doing sentry duty. "Iwonder if it is going to blow up a storm. "

"I hope so, " said Bobby. "I love for things to happen. "

Percival glanced despairingly at Mrs. Weston, who was beginning on afresh ball of yarn. If she continued to sit there and knit the rest ofher life, nothing ever would happen. 

"I ought to close my port-hole if it's going to rain, " she said. "Do youthink it is?"

"Sure to, " said Percival, with unusual alacrity. "Hard shower anyminute. "

Mrs. Weston rose reluctantly. 

"Don't you think you'd better come down, too, Bobby, and close yours?"

"Mine's closed, thanks. I'll take your place and hold Mr. Hascombe'stea-cup. "

Now, when a person with outrageously blue eyes is leaning on the arm ofyour steamer-chair, steadying your saucer for you, and the wind hasblown everybody else off the deck except a bow-legged Chinese stewardwho is absorbed in tying things down, it does look as if Fate meant tobe propitious. 

Percival put his cup in his saucer and let his fingers touch the smallhand that held it. 

[Illustration: "It's quite worth while" he said "getting a jab in thewrist, to have you looking after me like this"]

"It's quite worth while, " he said, "getting a jab in the wrist, to haveyou looking after me like this. I wonder if you realize that you savedmy life last night?"

"I bet I know what this is leading up to, " cried Bobby, accusingly. 

"What?" asked Percival, catching his lip between his teeth and lookingat her with devouring eyes. 

"A medal!"

"Much more serious. As a matter of fact, the truth is, I've been tryingto get a minute alone with you all day. There's something I want--"

"Oh, yes, I know. It's that Manchu coat. You want it to pack, of course. I'll get it now. "

But his fingers held hers fast to the saucer. 

"You stupid child! You don't understand. It's yours, everything I haveis--"

"Oh, goody! Here's the rain!" cried Bobby. "Andy bet me ten pounds ofcandy it wouldn't come before night. Quick, let me put your cup underthe chair. Don't bother about the cushions. "

"But there's something I've _got_ to say to you. You must listen tome!"

"I'll listen to anything you like in the music-room just so it isn't'Tales from Hoffman. ' Come, we'll have to hurry!"

Percival, with his passion once more arrested, strode after herfuriously. He was intolerant of every moment that passed before beclaimed her for his own, and unable longer to restrain his mad desire tofold her in his arms. 

In the midst of these fervent anticipations he was unpleasantly aware ofthe increased motion of the ship. It was the first time he had felt thatpitching, rolling motion since leaving the Golden Gate, and he shudderedinvoluntarily. 

"Here's a cozy little corner all to ourselves!" cried Bobby, tossing thecushions into a nook in the music-room, and inviting him to a placebeside her. 

But Percival remained standing in the doorway, supporting himself withhis free hand, his eyes fixed on space, and a leaden color spreadingover his face. 

"If you don't mind, " he said slowly, "I think I'll go below. Feel thestorm a bit in my head. Atmospheric pressure, you know. "

"Of course you do, " cried Bobby, all solicitude. "It's no wonder, afterthe blood you lost last night. Sit right down there until I findJudson. "

XV

PERCIVAL RISES TO AN OCCASION

During the two nights and days that followed the typhoon had everythingits own way. The sea bellowed with rage, and battalion after battalionof mountainous waves charged the ship, only to fall back and form again. For thirty consecutive hours the captain stayed on the bridge watchingevery variation in the glass, and keeping all of his Nelson features inactive service. Whatever frivolities might fill his idle hours, therewas no question of his attention to duty when the call came. 

As for the Honorable Percival, he had ample opportunity during his longhours of solitary confinement to make a complete inventory of his variedemotions. Two things which should never be interrupted are a sneeze anda proposal. That second declaration, so ardently begun and so ruthlesslyarrested, still hung in mid-air, and lying on his back in his darkenedstateroom, he had ample time in which to survey it from every angle. 

Never for a moment did he question the undying nature of his affectionfor Bobby. His emotion was too insistent and too consuming to bedoubted. It was the proprieties that he questioned, and they all shookemphatic and disapproving heads. The proprieties in Grosvenor Square, tobe sure, loomed rather dim through the distance; but that immediatepropriety in Hong-Kong, toward whom he was speeding with every turn ofthe screw, towered ominously. 

If only he could hold things in abeyance until after the _Saluria_sailed from Hong-Kong, all might be well. It was of the utmostimportance that he should not present Bobby to Sister Cordelia until thedie was irrevocably cast. Faults that in Miss Boynton of the Big GullyRanch would be glaring iniquities would, in the wife of the HonorablePercival Hascombe, dwindle away to charming eccentricities. 

A daring plan occurred to him. With proper strategy he might go downto see the steamer off, get left on board, have the return trip inuninterrupted bliss with Bobby, then boldly cable from America thathe had met his fate and succumbed to it, and that remonstrances wereuseless. The scheme appealed to him the more he considered it. Cablegrams were necessarily unemotional, and by the time letters wereexchanged, the proprieties would probably have decided to accept thewill of Providence and try to make the best of dear Percy's strangechoice of an unknown American girl. 

In the meanwhile he would devote all his energies to fitting her forthe honor about to be conferred upon her, For he had quite given up theidea of the "blossomed bower in dark purple spheres of sea, " and haddefinitely decided to take her back to England as the future mistress ofHascombe Hall. All he asked was six months in which to cut and polishhis priceless gem. 

It was not until the evening before the _Saluria_ was due inHong-Kong that the sea got over its fit of temper and decided to makethat last night the most beautiful one of the crossing. Everybody wasdown for the farewell dinner. Even those who had been invisible for twodays emerged from their state-rooms like gorgeous butterflies from theircocoons. Speeches were made, toasts were drunk, and a general air offestivity prevailed. 

Percival raged inwardly at the length of the dinner. The golden momentswere racing by, and he was in a fever to get Bobby away to himself, he had decided on a course which he felt did credit to his power ofself-control. He would permit himself the luxury of showing her that heraffection for him was wholly returned, without in any way committinghimself to a definite engagement. He would, in short, ask her to accepta sort of promissory note on his affections, to be presented at any timeafter the steamer left Hong-Kong. 

It was ten o'clock before he contrived, to escape Mrs. Weston's vigilanteye and whisk Bobby off to a certain favored nook on the boat-deck justoutside the captain's state-room. Here they had spent many happyevenings, notwithstanding the fact that their figures, silhouettedagainst the light, had never failed to provoke the captain to aprofanity that was not always inaudible. 

To-night, however, the captain was detained below, and they had theentire Yellow Sea to themselves as they sat on a projecting ledge andleaned their elbows comfortably on the rail. 

It was an enticing night, with nothing left of the recent storm save asubtle thrill that still lingered in wind and wave. Overhead spread acanopy of luminous, subtropical stars; in undisturbed silence they gazedup at their brilliance. From below floated faint strains of musicmingling with the sound of rippling: water. 

"And to think it's our very last night!" murmured Bobby, her chin on herpalm. "I'll never bear 'La Paloma' that I sha'n't think of this trip andof you. "

Percival dared not answer. He had reached that stage when, accordingto the philosopher, the moonlight is a pleasing fever, the stars areletters, the flowers ciphers, and the air is coined into song. Heregarded her gaze as she bent it upon the stars as the most exquisitelypensive thing he had ever behold. 

"My! but there are some dandy billiard-shots up there!" she exclaimedsuddenly. "Do you see that lovely carom over there beyond the Dipper?"

"I am not thinking of caroms, " he said impatiently, "I am thinking ofyou. "

"What have I done now?" she asked indignantly. 

"You've made me forget that there's anything else in the whole universebut just you!"

"And now you've got to begin to remember, " said Bobby, sympathetically. 

He searched her face for a clue as to what was passing in her mind, buthe found none. 

"You are a most awfully baffling girl, " he said. "Sometimes I can'tdetermine whether you are subtle or merely ingenuous. "

"I'd give it up, " advised Bobby. 

"But I sha'n't give it up. I sha'n't be content until I know everylittle corner of your mind and heart. "

She stirred uneasily. From, the way he was looking at her it wasevidently a good thing that his near arm was in a sling. 

"You need a cigar, " she said soothingly. "Get one out; I'll light it foryou. "

He obediently produced his cigar-case, and together they selected acigar. She made a great point of cutting off the end, and then, when hehad got it into his mouth, she struck a match and, sheltering the blazewith her scarf, held it close. The sudden intimacy of that beautifulface in the little circle of light, with the darkness all around, wasquite too much for Percival. He looked straight into her eyes for oneresolution-breaking second, then he blew out the match and catching herto him, passionately kissed those smiling, upturned lips. 

"Mr. Hascombe!" she protested, shrinking away; but Percival had made hisleap and nothing could stop him. 

"You are mine!" he cried rapturously, pressing her hand again and againto his lips. "It's all quite right, my darling. Don't be frightened. Weshall be married any time, anywhere you say, to-morrow, if you like, inHong-Kong. "

"But, Mr. Hascombe--"

"Not Mr. Hascombe. Percival, Percy, if you will. Fancy! Love at firstsight. One glance on those desolate plains, and you were mine!"

"But I'm not. That's what I'm trying to tell you. "

He looked at her fatuously. "But you will be! My little lady of themanor! My beautiful little mistress of Hascombe Hall!"

She struggled away from him, and stood at bay. 

"How _can_ you talk to me like this?" she cried, her voicetrembling with indignation, "after what I told you that day in thewind-shelter?"

"In the wind-shelter?" He looked at her in bewilderment. 

"Yea, about Hal Ford and the captain and all that. Why, you promised tohelp me, and now--"

"Hal Ford?" repeated Percival, dazed. "What has he to do with it?"

"More than anybody else in the world. He's waiting for me in Wyoming, and I'm counting the days and the hours and the minutes until I get backto him. I thought you understood, and were helping me bring the captainaround. "

He stood before her too stunned to speak. 

Sheer amazement for the moment crowded out the pain. 

"But--but don't you love me?" he stammered at last. 

"Of course I don't, " said Bobby, almost indignantly; "I never have lovedanybody, and I never will love anybody but Hal. "

Then Percival realized that it was quite possible for lightning tostrike twice in the same place. He felt a sudden pain in his throat, a burning under his lids, and he sat down limply. 

[Illustration: "I'm so sorry!" whispered Bobby, putting her armimpulsively around his heaving shoulders]

"I'm so sorry!" whispered Bobby, putting her arm impulsively around hisheaving shoulders. "I thought we were playing a game. I thought youunderstood. Please forgive me, Mr. Hascombe! Please! Won't you?"

He shook off her arm and stood up. He was whiter than he had been on thenight of the accident, but he managed to achieve a smile. 

"Nothing whatever to forgive, I assure you. Just a bit of a bunker, youknow. Silly ass I was, not to have seen it all along. May I offer mycongratulations?" he added. 

She took the hand that he hold out, and for a longer time than either ofthem knew they stood silent, looking out into the vast mystery of thenight, while the throbbing strains of "La Paloma" floated up from below, mingling with the music of the rippling water. 

"I guess this is good-by, " said Bobby, tremulously. 

Then it was that the Honorable Percival illustrated the fact that anEnglish gentleman is often greatest in defeat. 

"Not necessarily, " he said gamely. "Quite possible you and your husbandmay come to England. "

"Or you to Wyoming!" cried Bobby, brightening instantly, and turningupon him the full splendor of her eyes. "Hal and I'd just _love_ togive you a summer on the ranch. Do you suppose it ever will bepossible?"

"Oh, I dare say, " said the Honorable Percival, nonchalantly adjustinghis monocle. 

XVI

IN PORT

The next morning the long voyage of the _Saluria_ came to an end. The steamer docked at Hong-Kong just as the first pink streaks of dawncrept over the bay and the terraced city. 

Bobby was up with the officers, and breakfasted alone with the captain. 

"Can you spare me five minutes?" she asked as he was hurrying throughhis second cup of coffee. 

"What for?"

"For a talk. I've got something to tell you. "

"It'll have to wait, " said the captain, gruffly. "We are landing a cargoof sugar machinery here, and I've got my hands full. "

"I don't want your hands, " said Bobby, quietly; "I want your ears. There's something I've just got to tell you. "

"I can't listen. I'm due on the bridge now. "

He escaped for the time being, but later In the morning, when thecommotion of arrival was at its height, and the passengers werebeginning to go ashore, he found Bobby on the bridge beside him. Hefancied he saw defiance written all over her, from the crown of herwhite hat to the tip of her white shoes. 

"Captain, " she said, "It won't take a minute. "

He was on the point of refusing when she laid her hand on his. 

"Cut away!" he said, looking straight ahead of him. "Make it short. "

"It's about Mr. Hascombe. He's--he's asked me to marry him. "

The captain jerked his hand away and brought it down on the rail with aresounding blow. 

"You sha'n't do it!" he thundered. "I'd see you sewed up in a bag anddropped alongside first. "

"But, Captain--"

"I won't have it! There's no use arguing. The idea of a girl of minebeing carried away by a condescending, conceited jack-in-the-box--"

"He _isn't_! He's a darling!" Bobby flashed out hotly. "It's justthat you don't understand him. "

"What's more, I don't want to. I've had enough of him and his kind. IfI'd known you were going to run amuck of a thing like this, I'd have letyou bury yourself on the ranch for the rest of your life. "

"Well, " agreed Bobby, carefully studying her pink palm, and weighing herwords as one who is quite open to reason, "I think I could have beenhappy with Hal; but you thought we were both too young and that I oughtto see some other men first. "

"Yes, but I didn't know you were going to get your head turned by thefirst fool that came lording it around with a valet and a title. TheFords may be plain people, but, by Jugs! they are the sort to tie up toin a squall. "

Bobby smiled broadly under the brim of her hat. 

"Then you advise me to take Hal?"

"I advise you to let me send this fellow Hascombe about his business. I'll make short work of him. "

Bobby slipped her arm through his, and looked up saucily. 

"You needn't bother, dear, " she said. "Now that it's all settled aboutHal, I don't mind telling you that I refused Mr. Hascombe last night. "

 * * * * *

On the gangway below, the passengers were slowly filing ashore. Amongthe last to debark was the Honorable Percival Hascombe, followed by afur coat, a gun-case, two pigskin bags, a hat-box, and a valet. On hisface was an expression of unutterable ennui. As he reached the wharf heturned and casually surveyed the steamer. On the bridge he discerned asmall alert figure, clad in white, her dark head framed by the broadbrim of a Panama hat. She waved her hand and smiled, and he waved back, but he did not smile. 

"Judson, " said the Honorable Percival as they handed their bags toSister Cordelia's footman, "quite unnecessary to mention any--er--anyincidents of the voyage. You understand?"

"Quite so, sir, " said Judson. 

FINIS

 * * * * *

"When Alice Hegan Rice writes a little book, lovers of whimsicalfiction rejoice with open rejoicing. "--_Chicago Tribune_. 

"Mrs. Rice has been paid the compliment of being compared with Dickens. Those who appreciate her real merits will see that she is more natural, more lifelike, and more unaffectedly humorous than the author of'Pickwick Papers. '"--_Rochester Post-Express_. 

"There is a delicious humor in everything she writes, and it hasthe virtue of non-boisterousness and sobriety in tone. There isno straining for wit: everything has the merit of spontaneity andnaturalness. "--_Philadelphia Record_. 

"She is one of the real humorists, for at the bottom of her humor thereis a deep well of human kindness. "--_The Metropolitan_. 

_See next page for complete list of Mrs. Rice's books_

 * * * * *

Books by Alice Hegan Rice

MRS. WIGGS OF THE CABBAGE PATCH

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LOVEY MARY

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MR. OPP

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A ROMANCE OF BILLY-GOAT HILL

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_Price_ $1. 25 _net, postage_ 10 _cents_

SANDY

Sandy is a lovable Irish waif, and his story overflows with sunshine andhumor. 

_Price_ $1. 00

CAPTAIN JUNE

A happy story of a dear little American lad who has all kinds ofinteresting and unusual experiences in Japan. 

_Price_ $1. 00

At all booksellers. Published by THE CENTURY CO.