f--perhaps a minute early. Knollys told
Marcella afterwards that he guessed the captain had sailed early on
purpose, for just at that moment he saw a group of four people dripping
with rain rush on to the slippery boards of the jetty. They were four
who had been pretty noticeable as law-breakers during the whole trip--at
least, so the captain thought. Marcella gave a cry of hapless
disappointment as she saw Louis with Ole Fred, the red-haired man and
another. They were laughing wildly, and almost close enough to touch the
rails of the ship.

"Jump, Louis," she cried wildly.

"Some flow's--for you, ole girl!" he cried, grinning loosely. "Mished
bally boat! Catch, ole girl--flow's," and he threw a great bunch of
bedraggled-looking flowers that had very obviously been dropped several
times in the greasy mud. They fell helplessly into the water. Marcella
could not stop to think of anything sensible. All she could see to do
was to jump overboard to him and snatch him from the grinning men who
were lurching at his side. But as she put her hand on the rail the
schoolmaster drew her back.

"Thass ri! Come on, ole girl! Marsh--Marshella--come an' sleep
in--sh-sh-shtreets! Got no money, ole girl. Marsh--Marshella! _Parlez
vous Franshay?_ Eh? Ah, _oui, oui_. Marsh-la! I wan' a woman! Beau-ful
wi' shoulders--"

"Oh--oh," she cried, burying her face in her hands in horror.

"I should advise you to go below," said the schoolmaster's restrained
voice.

But she was irresistibly drawn to look at Louis, to plead with him with
her eyes, though her voice refused to work. And at that moment his
unsteady foothold on the streaming planks gave way, and he sat down
heavily. There were six or eight feet of black water now between the
ship and the quay, but Marcella could hear plainly the foolish laughter
of the other three as they tried to lift him to his feet. Ole Fred fell
beside him, smashing a bottle as he did so, while several cans of tinned
stuff went rolling out of his arms into the water. Louis sat, laughing
helplessly until he realized that Marcella's white face was vanishing
and he kissed his hand to her solemnly.

"Goo' ni' ole girl. Going fin' woman. Meet thee at Philippi! Ah, _oui,
oui_! Marsh--ella! Look! Noblest Rom' of them all! Elements so
mixshed--mixshed--can't stan' up, ole girl."

She heard no more for the laughter of the others who were all sitting
heaped together on the slippery boards now. Sick and aching she st