it was fear, and that Sir Langham
dreaded the night.

"As a rule I do," she said gently; "but of course I've known what it is
to be sleepless, and it's horrid."

"It's hell," said Sir Langham, "and I'm in it every night this voyage,
for I've knocked off morphia and opiates--they were playing the deuce
with my constitution, and I've strength of mind for anything when I
fairly take hold. But it's awful. When d'you suppose natural sleep will
come back?"

She knew that he did not lack physical courage, that he had fearlessly
faced great dangers in many outposts of the world; but the demon of
insomnia had got a hold of Sir Langham, and he dreaded the night
unspeakably. At that moment there was something pathetic about the
little, boastful, filibustering man.

"I think you will sleep to-night," she said confidently, "especially if
you go to bed early."

She half rose as she spoke, but he put his hand on her arm and pressed
her down in her chair again.

"Don't go yet," he cried. "Keep on tellin' me I'll sleep, and then
perhaps I shall. You look as if you could will people to do things.
You're that quiet sort. Will me, there's a good girl. Tell me again I'll
sleep to-night."

It was getting late; the music had stopped and the dancers had
disappeared. Miss Ross did not feel over comfortable alone with Sir
Langham so far away from everybody else. Especially as she saw he was
excited and nervous. Had he been drinking? she wondered. But she
remembered that he had proclaimed far and wide that, because of his
gout, he'd made a vow to touch no form of "alcoholic liquor" on the
voyage, except on Christmas and New Year's Day. It was six days since
Christmas, and already Aden was left behind. No, it was just sheer
nervous excitement, and if she could do him any good....

"I feel sure you will sleep to-night," she said soothingly, "if you will
do as I tell you."

"I'll do any mortal thing. I've got a deck-cabin to myself. Will you
keep willin' me when you turn in?"

"Go to bed now," she said firmly. "Undress quickly, and then think about
nothing ... and I'll do the rest."

"You will, you promise?"

"Yes, but you must keep your mind a perfect blank, or I can't do
anything."

She stood up tall and straight. The moonlight caught her grey hair and
burnished it to an aureole of silver.

With many grunts Sir Langham pulled himself out of his chair. "No
smokin'-room, eh?"

"Good night," Miss Ross said firmly, and left him.