now you?" inquired Jennie, in a low voice.

"I made his acquaintance yesterday for the first time."

"I don't like his looks; do you?"

"Wait till after dinner and I will tell you," said Tom, fearing that
Graham would hear.

Milton Graham saw that Jennie was pretty, and desired to make her
acquaintance.

"Tom," said he--for he sat on the other side of our hero--"won't you
introduce me to your young lady friend?"

Tom was not well versed in etiquette, but his good sense told him that
he ought to ask Jennie's permission first.

"If Miss Watson is willing," he said, and asked her the question.

Jennie was not aware of Graham's real character, and gave permission.
She was perhaps a little too ready to make new acquaintances.

"Do you enjoy this mode of travel, Miss Watson?" said Graham, after the
introduction.

"Oh, yes; I think it very pleasant."

"I suppose you wouldn't like the ocean as well. I went to Havana last
winter--on business for my father--and had a very rough passage. The
steamer pitched and tossed, making us all miserably seasick."

"I shouldn't like that."

"I don't think you would; but we business men must not regard such
things."

Tom listened to him with incredulity. Only the day before he would have
put full confidence in his statement; but he had learned a lesson,
thanks to Graham himself.

"How far are you going, Miss Watson?" continued Graham.

"To Cincinnati. My mother and I are going to live there."

"It is a very pleasant city. I have often been there--on business."

"What is your business, Mr. Graham?" Tom could not help asking.

"I see you are a Yankee," said Graham, smiling. "Yankees are very
inquisitive--always asking questions."

"Are you a Yankee, Mr. Graham?" asked Jennie. "You asked me where I was
going."

"A fair hit," said Graham. "No, I am not a Yankee. I am a native of New
York."

"And I of New Jersey," said Tom.

"Oh, you are a foreigner then," said Graham. "We always call Jerseymen
foreigners."

"It is a stupid joke, I think," said Tom, who was loyal to his native
State.

"You didn't answer Tom's question," said Jennie, who was a very
straightforward young lady.

"Oh, my father is a commission merchant," answered Graham.

"What does he deal in?"

"Articles too numerous to mention. Tom, will you pass me the potatoes?"

Dinner was soon over, and the passengers went upon deck. Graham lit a
cigar.

"Have a cigar, Tom?" he said.

"No, thank you; I