om the southeast. The air is sweet and
sun-laden, the rhythmic rise and fall of the little steamer seems a
bit of caressing pastime between ship and sea--"the whole world is
shining and exultant," think I, "and the contagion reaches me."

"Mademoiselle ees fery happy for somedthing," says the Baron's deep,
low voice.

"Yes, I'm always happy, but especially just now. Mrs. Steele--Baron
de Bach, a friend of Major Sanford."

For half an hour the young Peruvian devotes himself making a good
impression on Mrs. Steele. He carries her chair about until a place is
discovered sufficiently sheltered from the sun and yet not too cold;
he puts all our wraps and rugs on and about "Madame," who watches him
with quiet amusement until I ask:

"And now, pray, what am I to do for a rug?"

"You need not a rug; you vill valk dthe deck, vill you not?"

To tell the truth, walking the deck is much more in my line than being
swathed and pinioned in a chair, but----

"Yes, my dear, it will do you good--bring me a book, and then you may
explore if you like."

So Madame is left with her French romance, and up and down in the
sunshine I walk with our new acquaintance at my side.

"You air not Frainch?" he asks with a scrutinising side glance out of
his fine eyes.

"I am happy to say that I am an American, and so are my ancestors for
three hundred years."

"Naixt to dthe Frainch, dthe American ladies air most beautiful,
charmante and clevair, but you haf chic, and more dthings; you might
be angry I vould say. Vhen I stood at dthe ship and see you coming
_abord du San Miguel_ I vas so happy, for I haf fear for a dull
voyage."

"H'm! You fancy then I may entertain you?"

"_Mademoiselle!_"

Very reproachful is the droop of the long lashes.

"It ess my gude hope ve may be friends, and if I succeed to amuse
_you_, I am content _a present_."

"And what office do you aspire to in the future? Shall you instruct,
perhaps?"

"Dthat ees more your role, for if you pairmeet me to listen to your so
beautiful Eenglish, I must learn much. But you will let me spik to you
a leedle in Frainch, mademoiselle? Dthere air zome dthings I cannot
say in Eenglish."

We stop at the vessel's side, and in a glance across to Mrs. Steele I
see her looking with wide-eyed amusement and a dash of concern at my
companion. I turn in time to catch a queer, earnest look in the boyish
face, as he stands with one hand grasping the rope ladder and his head
bent do