n. "The boat
is manned with her family!" He turned in to help with a will.

Nearly an hour passed before Corinna appeared for her lunch, and the
dining-saloon was beginning to empty. Seeing Evan there, she naturally
supposed he had finished eating and had remained to help. She took a
seat next the window at one of the tables, and thus protected herself
on one hand. Indicating the chair on the other side of her she said to
Denton:

"Sit here. You can be spared now."

"Thanks, but I promised this seat to Weir," said Denton innocently.

Corinna bit her lip. The said Weir made haste to slip into the seat,
before anything further could be said. Corinna quickly started a
conversation with a youth across the table, another helper, and
supposedly a "brother"--at least he looked at Corinna with sheep's eyes.

Evan, determined not to allow himself to be eliminated, said firmly: "I
have not met this gentleman."

Corinna said coldly: "Mr. Domville, Mr. Weir."

Next to Domville sat another helper, an older man with a queer, clever,
bitter face, Mr. Dordess. Some belated mothers made up the tableful.
Anway waited on them. As he placed a plate of soup before Evan with
set face, Evan suspected he would rather have poured it down the back
of his neck. Evan thanked him ironically.

Corinna did her best to keep the conversation of the whole tableful in
her hands, but of course it was bound to escape her sometimes. And
there were lulls. At such moments Evan could speak to her without
anybody overhearing.

"Corinna, what's the use?"

Affecting not to hear him, she asked a question across the table. Evan
patiently bided his time.

"'What's the use?' I said."

"I don't understand you."

"What's the use of trying to evade something that's got to be faced in
the end."

"What's got to be faced?"

"Me."

"Is that a threat?"

"No. You know, yourself, after what happened you owe me an
explanation."

"The explanation is obvious."

"Then I must be very dense."

"If you were the least bit sorry, I could talk to you; but to glory in
it, to try to trade on it----"

"Sorry for what?"

"Oh, of course you have nothing to be sorry for."

"You're talking in riddles. You know I love you."

She laughed three notes. He frowned at the sound.

"It's a funny way you have of showing it," she said. "To try to humble
me further!"

"But you ask for it, Corinna--with your high and mighty way. I told
you that befo