arranged in a voyage from Alexandria to
Southampton."

But luckily for Mrs. Cox, everybody did not think as he did. He had
gone from her ruthlessly, cruelly, falsely, with steps which sounded
as though there were triumph in his escape, and left her seated
alone near the skylights. But she was not long alone. As she looked
after him along the deck, the head of Major Biffin appeared to her,
emerging from the saloon stairs. She said nothing to herself now
about barber's blocks or uncurled whiskers.

"Well, Mrs. Cox," said the major, accosting her.

"Well, Major Biffin;" and the major thought that he saw in her eye
some glimpse of the smile as of old.

"We are very near home now, Mrs. Cox," said the major.

"Very near indeed," said Mrs. Cox. And then there was a slight pause,
during which Major Biffin took an opportunity of sitting down not
very far from his companion.

"I hope you have enjoyed your voyage," said he.

"Which voyage?" she asked.

"Oh! your voyage home from Alexandria--your voyage since you made the
acquaintance of Mr.--what's his name, the parson's cousin?"

"Mr. What's-his-name, as you call him, is nothing to me, I can assure
you, Major Biffin. His real name, however, is Bertram. He has been
very civil when some other people were not inclined to be so, that is
all."

"Is that all? The people here do say--"

"Then I tell you what, Major Biffin, I do not care one straw what the
people say--not one straw. You know whose fault it has been if I have
been thrown with this stranger. Nobody knows it as well. And mind
this, Major Biffin, I shall always do as I like in such matters
without reference to you or to any one else. I am my own mistress."

"And do you mean to remain so?"

"Ask no questions, and then you'll be told no stories."

"That's civil."

"If you don't like it, you had better go, for there's more to follow
of the same sort."

"You are very sharp to-night."

"Not a bit sharper than I shall be to-morrow."

"One is afraid even to speak to you now."

"Then one had better hold one's tongue."

Mrs. Cox was receiving her suitor rather sharply; but she probably
knew his disposition. He did not answer her immediately, but sat
biting the top of his cane. "I'll tell you what it is, Mrs. Cox," he
said at last, "I don't like this kind of thing."

"Don't you, Mr. Biffin? And what kind of thing do you like?"

"I like you."

"Psha! Tell me something new, if you must tell me anything."