e more likely to be enlisted in his favour if
she knew the actual state of the case.

"Did Mrs. Holbrook positively decline to see me?" he asked again,
scarcely able to believe that Marian could have resisted even that brief
appeal scrawled upon a scrap of paper.

"She did indeed, sir," answered the stewardess. "Nothing could be more
positive than her manner. I told her how anxious you seemed--for I could
see it in your face, you see, sir, when you gave me the paper--and I
really didn't like to bring you such a message; but it was no use. 'I
decline to see him,' the lady said, 'and be sure you bring me no more
messages from this gentleman;' and with that, sir, she tore up the bit of
paper, as cool as could be. But, dear me, sir, how ill you do look, to be
sure!"

"I have been very ill. I came from a sick-room to follow my wife."

"Hadn't you better go and lie down a little, sir? You look as if you
could scarcely stand. Shall I fetch the steward for you?"

"No, thanks. I can find my way to my berth, I daresay. Yes, I suppose I
had better go and lie down. I can do no more yet awhile."

He could do no more, and had indeed barely strength to stagger to his
sleeping-quarters, which he discovered at last with some difficulty. Here
he flung himself down, dressed as he was, and lay like a log, for hours,
not sleeping, but powerless to move hand or foot, and with his brain
racked by torturing thoughts. "As soon as I am able to stand again, I
will see her father, and exact a reckoning from him," he said to himself
again and again, during those long dreary hours of prostration; but when
the next day came, he was too weak to raise himself from his narrow bed,
and on the next day after that he was no better. The steward was much
concerned by his feeble condition, especially as it was no common case of
sea-sickness; for John Saltram had told him that he was never sea-sick.
He brought the prostrate traveller soda-water and brandy, and tried to
tempt him to eat rich soups of a nutritious character; but the sick man
would take nothing except an occasional draught of soda-water.

On the third day of the voyage the steward was very anxious to bring the
ship's surgeon to look at Mr. Saltram; but against this John Saltram
resolutely set his face.

"For pity's sake, don't bore me with any more doctors!" he cried
fretfully. "I have had enough of that kind of thing. The man can do
nothing for me. I am knocked up with over exertion and