re would merely be two April
fools instead of one, and she the wretched masquerader in borrowed plumes
not the least of them! Slowly she turned away from the rail and went to
her cabin. A line sent by a steward brought Diana there at the
double-quick. She burst into the cabin, the open note in her hand.

"What do you mean? Is this the way you keep faith? . . . Trying to
slither out of our bargain before it is a week old!"

"It is you who have broken faith," retorted April indignantly. "Surely
it was in the bargain that you should behave with common decency and not
make my name notorious!"

"Rot!" was the airy answer. "A few old pussy cats with their fur brushed
the wrong way, that's all. Who's going to mind what they say?"

"Do you realize that you are known from one end of the ship to the other
as the April Fool?"

Diana burst out laughing.

"I know who started that . . . the poisonous asp I share my cabin with.
Just because I have seen her putting on her transformation, and know how
many kinds of paints she uses to build up her face! If it had been _you_
it would have been just the same. You'd have been the April Fool
instead, that's all. You ought to be jolly grateful, instead of bullying
me."

She sat down on the lounge, smiling and sparkling, and took out a
cigarette. April, in whom laughter was always near the surface, could
have smiled herself had she not been nearer weeping. After all, Diana's
pranks and antics were in no way vicious, but seemed merely the result of
the lifelong drastic restraint hitherto exercised over her. Her vitality
was breaking out like a fire that has been too long covered up. But
there was no knowing where she would stop, and what would not be consumed
in the merry blaze.

"Well, I'm _not_ grateful," she said firmly, "and if you want to be
talked about in future, it will have to be under your own name."

"Oh, April!" Diana's jauntiness left her instantly. "I beg of you,
_don't_ be unkind. I am having such a topping time. I've never been so
happy in my life. If you only knew how dull I've been with old Aunt
Grizel always hounding me to death. Don't go and spoil my first good
time."

"It is you who are spoiling it. You forget that I have to earn my living
and am dependent on the world's good opinion. Where shall I be at the
end of the voyage with the frivolous reputation you are building up for
me?"

"I won't do it any more. I'll be so good. You'll se