ate, with studied politeness; "don't mind
hurting my feelings or taking _my_ character away."

"Pooh! you're a man," said the visitor, scornfully; "but character or
no character, I'm going to see into that room before I go away, if I sit
here for three weeks."

"How're you going to manage about eating and drinking all that time?"
enquired Fraser.

"How are you?" said the visitor; "you can't get up while I'm here, you
know."

"Well, we'll see," said the mate, vaguely.

"I'm sure I don't want to annoy anybody," said the visitor, softly, "but
I've had a lot of trouble, young man, and what's worse, I've been made a
fool of. This day three weeks ago I ought to have been married."

"I'm sure you ought," murmured the other.

The lady ignored the interruption.

"Travelling under Government on secret service, he said he was," she
continued; "always away: here to-day, China to-morrow, and America the
day after."

"Flying?" queried the interested mate.

"I daresay," snapped the visitor; "anything to tell me, I suppose.
We were to be married by special license. I'd even got my _trousseau_
ready."

"Got your _what_ ready?" enquired the mate, to whom the word was new,
leaning out of his bunk.

"Everything to wear," explained the visitor. "All my relations bought
new clothes, too; leastways, those that could afford it did. He even
went and helped me choose the cake."

"Well, is that wrong?" asked the puzzled mate.

"He didn't buy it, he only chose it," said the other, having recourse to
her handkerchief again. "He went outside the shop to see whether there
was one he would like better, and when I came out he had disappeared."

"He must have met with an accident," said the mate, politely.

"I saw him to-night," said the lady, tersely.

"Once or twice he had mentioned Wapping in conversation, and then
seemed to check himself. That was my clue. I've been round this dismal
heathenish place for a fortnight. To-night I saw him; he came on this
wharf, _and he has not gone off_.... It's my belief he's in that room."

Before the mate could reply the hoarse voice of the watchman came down
the company-way. "Ha' past eleven, sir; tide's just on the turn."

"Aye, aye," said the mate. He turned imploringly to the visitor.

"Would you do me the favour just to step on deck a minute?"

"What for?" enquired the visitor, shortly.

"Because I want to get up," said the mate.

"I sha'n't move," said the lady.

"But I've got t