said the captain, after a pause.

"Nothing," said the girl.

"But I don't understand," said the captain, "What good will changing
your name do?"

"Wait till you hear it," retorted the girl, with an amused glance at
him.

"I am waiting," said the other, somewhat shortly.

"You'll see at once when I tell you," said Joan; "and I'm sure you won't
mind. I am going back to Salthaven under the name of Mrs. Trimblett."

The captain stopped suddenly in his stride, and with a bewildered air
strove to rally his disordered faculties. Alarm and consternation choked
his utterance.

"Poor dear!" said Joan, with another giggle. "Don't be alarmed. It's the
best thing that could happen to you; it will prevent all other attempts
on your freedom."

"I can take a joke," said the captain, finding his speech at last;
"I can take a joke as well as most men, but this is going a trifle too
far."

"But I'm not joking," said the girl. "I'm going back as Mrs. Trimblett;
I am, indeed. Don't look so frightened; I'm not going to marry you,
really. Only pretend, as the children say."

"You don't know what you're talking about!" exclaimed the astonished
captain.

"Putting aside your feelings--and mine," said Joan, "it's a good thing
for everybody else, isn't it? We mustn't consider ourselves--that would
be selfish."

The captain shook his head in angry amazement.

"I suppose, when you said just now that you would do anything for
father, you didn't mean it, then?" said Joan. "And when you said you'd
die for me, you--"

"I tell you," interrupted the captain, violently, "it's impossible. I
never heard of such a thing."

"It's quite possible," declared the girl. "I shall go back home, and you
must get back to Salthaven just in time to sail. Mr. Vyner will be so
pleased at the news, he will let you stay away as long as you like, I am
sure."

"And what about when I come back?" demanded the captain.

"When you come back," said Joan, slowly--"just before, in fact--I shall
tell the truth and give people to understand that I did it to oblige
you--to prevent somebody else marrying you against your will."

"Oh!" said the captain, struggling nobly with his feelings. "Oh, you
will!"

"To-morrow," continued Joan, "I will buy the wedding-ring. I know that
that ought to be your business, but I'll get it, because I know where
I can get one cheap. I saw some the other day. Rolled gold they are
called. Eighteenpence each."

The captain choked.