ing this, there were not wanting people on board who scoffed and
sneered at the idea of the Colonial Secretary's daughter noticing so
humble a person as myself, and when it became known what my exact social
position was, I promise you these malicious whisperings did not cease.

One evening, two or three days after we had left Colombo behind us, I
was standing at the rails on the promenade deck a little abaft the
smoking-room entrance, when Miss Wetherell came up and took her place
beside me. She looked very dainty and sweet in her evening dress, and I
felt, if I had known her better, I should have liked to tell her so.

"Mr. Hatteras," said she, when we had discussed the weather and the
sunset, "I have been thinking lately that you desire to avoid me."

"Heaven forbid! Miss Wetherell," I hastened to reply. "What on earth put
such a notion into your head?"

"All the same I believe it to be true. Now, why do you do it?"

"I have not admitted that I do do it. But, perhaps, if I do seem to deny
myself the pleasure of being with you as much as some other people I
could mention, it is only because I fail to see what possible enjoyment
you can derive from my society."

"That is a very pretty speech," she answered, smiling, "but it does not
tell me what I want to know."

"And what is it that you want to know, my dear young lady?"

"I want to know why you are so much changed towards me. At first we got
on splendidly--you used to tell me of your life in Torres Straits, of
your trading ventures in the Southern Seas, and even of your hopes for
the future. Now, however, all that is changed. It is, 'Good-morning,
Miss Wetherell,' 'Good-evening, Miss Wetherell,' and that is all. I must
own I don't like such treatment."

"I must crave your pardon--but----"

"No, we won't have any 'buts.' If you want to be forgiven, you must come
and talk to me as you used to do. You will like the rest of the people
I'm sure when you get to know them. They are very kind to me."

"And you think I shall like them for that reason?"

"No, no. How silly you are. But I do so want you to be friendly."

After that there was nothing for it but for me to push myself into a
circle where I had the best reasons for knowing that I was not wanted.
However, it had its good side: I saw more of Miss Wetherell; so much
more indeed that I began to notice that her father did not quite approve
of it. But, whatever he may have thought, he said nothing to me on th