said he, paling. "You heard what he called me. Do you believe these
things of me?"

She was silent for a moment. "No, I do not," she replied slowly. "I
believe that you are all you have represented yourself to be."

"Thank you," he said, with gentle dignity. "I am sorry if I have
distressed you this evening. Please don't think too harshly of me when
I say that I just had to find out how we stand, you and I. Now that I
know, I can only promise not to bother you again, and you may rely on my
promises. I never break them. Good-night, Miss Clinton."

He bowed to Mrs. Spofford, who ignored him, and then to Ruth, a wistful
smile struggling to his lips and eyes as he did so. As he turned away,
she spoke to him.

"You mentioned your hand being bad again. If you would like me to dress
it for you,--under the circumstances,--I will do so."

"Ruth!" cried Mrs. Spofford in a shocked voice.

He put his left hand behind his back. It was the one with which he
had gripped Landover's wrist that morning. The strain had reopened the
partially healed wounds.

"I injured it this morning in an encounter with your friend, Miss
Clinton. I can hardly ask you to dress it. Thank you, just the same."

"I know all that happened in Mr. Landover's cabin, but even so, I am
ready and willing to do anything in my power to ease the pain you are
suffering." She spoke calmly, dispassionately, almost perfunctorily.

He shook his head. "I shouldn't have spoken of it," he said. "It isn't
so bad that I can't fix it up myself. Good-night."

She joined her aunt and they made their way in silence to the latter's
stateroom. It was not until after the door was safely locked that Mrs.
Spofford delivered herself of the thought that had been in her mind the
whole length of the slanting corridor.

"I hope he will not take advantage of his position to--to bully us--to
bully you, dearest,--he might, you know. He has shown himself to be
perfectly capable of it. And we are so defenceless. No one but Abel
Landover to look to for help if he,--for, of course, no one else would
dare oppose this lawless young,--oh, you need not smile! He has the
power and it is quite plain now that he intends to exercise it. He will
brook no interference--"

"I am not afraid of Mr. Percival, Aunt Julia," said the girl, sitting
down wearily on the edge of the berth. "He is a gentleman."

"A--a gentleman?" gasped Mrs. Spofford. "Good gracious!"

"He will not annoy me," said Ruth,