ould meet an
important engagement at noon, he must not let her sail without him.
Meanwhile, the drunken husband was bridling and threatening, claiming
that the man had insulted him--yes, "actually had the audacity to lay
hands on him, begad!" The captain did not notice him any more than if
he had been a puppy snarling at his heels.

"We'll have to go," he said to one of the women, who looked more
sensible than the rest. "A little water will revive her, but another
such fright may be the death of her, with her heart giving out like
that. You look after her, and get her home--" He stopped. "Poor
creature! Where on earth is there a home for her?" With a stern
visage he offered an arm to each of his daughters.

"We'll have to hurry, girlies. We must leave her to her friends. But
mind me! Before I ever let one of you marry a drinking man I'll shut
you up in the hold of the old 'International,' and batten down the
hatches! Do you hear?"

Neither attempted to answer, but Hope looked sober as he helped them
aboard the launch, which was all steamed up ready for the start. The
first person they saw was the Traveler.

"Well met!" he cried gaily, as they shook hands with the cordiality of
old friends. "You've been visiting false gods, I see."

"Yes, and where have you strayed from?" returned the captain, trying to
throw off disagreeable impressions.

The Traveler mentioned a resort further on, at which the launch also
stopped for passengers, and Hope, rallying a little, remarked,

"It's odd enough! We supposed almost everybody was going on from
Bombay, and we would be the only ones left, but they all seem to
linger, and appear in the most unexpected places."

"That's a way we have in Bombay," laughed the gentleman. "But I really
have a good reason--a delay in the preparation of my outfit. I left my
card for you this morning, with my final farewell pencilled upon it,
for I expect to leave before dark. Meanwhile, have you seen Lady
Moreham?"

"No, not since we landed. She is one who has seemed to drop out of
sight most unaccountably."

"I did not suppose you had, for she and Mrs. Poinsett left very
hurriedly last night."

"Indeed! For where?"

"Delhi, at first. The fact is, she joins her husband there--a friend
of my own, by the way. A telegram from him hastened her going, and one
of my reasons for calling was to give you her adieux, and all sorts of
kind messages. I also left a letter from her t