e a wretched
laugh sobbed and strangled her.

'I said our Christian would not--no--not for love, nor fear, nor profit,
for he hinted that. I said: with what face dare such asking approach?
what part has he with the fleet? Never goes he aboard any boat, and never
a soul comes aboard his, neither do any dredge alongside him and his
ill-luck. The Alien they call him ever. Him--him their best, their very
best, having used worse than the lowest outcast, they desire as their
champion at need. Are devils so vile and shameless? Oh! he must not.
Forbid it you, and he will not disobey.'

The old man shook his head.

'He is no child--even now. He will look at me with those eyes of his,
and ask why--and then am I done.'

Later, Rhoda ventured down to Christian, mending his dredge on the quay,
and persuaded him away. In vain; for some waylaid him, and there in her
hearing got his promise, in swimming and rowing to do his best for the
credit of the fleet. Rhoda dared only press his hand and look entreaty
while his answer hung. A dazed look came and passed. Afterwards, his face
of mild inquiry daunted remonstrance, as Giles foretold.

Philip fetched him away eventually, but had not even the favour of a look
from Rhoda. She kept down her head, biting back tears and words of rage
and grief.

'I think he means well--does Philip,' sighed Giles unhappily.

Lois said bitterly: 'Like Samson blind, he goes to make sport for the
Philistines.'

Rhoda broke into passionate weeping.

'Ah, ah!' she cried, 'it is unbearable. At every turn strangers I
saw--who have come and heard--who will see, and our Christian will
hear--alone, all alone. Oh, would that I were a brother to stand by him!
Philip mean well! He prides himself on it, he parades it as a virtue, and
to himself pretends that he does not hate. But once, he forgot, and
looked--and I saw--hate--hate and fear. And I know, though he do
contrary, that his blood will dance for joy at any affront to Christian.
I know--and he takes Christian out to show!'

Giles got on his feet.

'If I am ever to tread the old quay, it may well be to-day.'

The remonstrance of Lois lacked vigour. He took help of Rhoda's shoulder
the length of the downward street, and then shambled off alone to
Christian's protection.

One, two, three hours passed, and twilight. Then back they came,
Christian's ample strength charged with the old man's weight. Giles swore
within his beard in his way that the women