hat. And now, mem, I
cannot tek you ashore; is iss no business I hef with that; and I could
not go ashore myself whateffer; but I would get you some dinner, mem."

"Then I suppose you don't understand the English language!" Miss White
exclaimed, angrily. "I tell you I will neither eat nor drink so long as
I am on board this yacht! Go and tell Sir Keith Macleod what I have
said."

So Miss White was left alone again; and the slow time passed; and she
heard the murmured conversation of the men; and also a measured pacing
to and fro, which she took to be the step of Macleod. Quick rushes of
feeling went through her, indignation, a stubborn obstinacy, a wonder
over the audacity of this thing, malevolent hatred even; but all these
were being gradually subdued by the dominant claim of hunger. Miss White
had acted the part of many heroines; but she was not herself a
heroine--if there is anything heroic in starvation. It was growing to
dusk when she again summoned the old Highland-woman.

"Get me something to eat," said she; "I cannot die like a rat in a
hole."

"Yes, mem," said Christina, in the most matter-of-fact way; for she had
never been in a theatre in her life, and she had not imagined that Miss
White's threat meant anything at all. "The dinner is just ready now,
mem; and if you will hef it in the saloon, there will be no one there;
that wass Sir Keith's message to you."

"I will not have it in the saloon; I will have it here."

"Ferry well, mem," Christina said, submissively. "But you will go into
the saloon, mem, when I will mek the bed for you, and the lamp will hef
to be lit, but Hamish he will light the lamp for you. And are there any
other things you wass thinking of that you would like, mem?"

"No; I want something to eat."

"And Hamish, mem, he wass saying I will ask you whether you will hef the
claret-wine, or--or--the other wine, mem, that makes a noise--"

"Bring me some water. But the whole of you will pay dearly for this!"

"I ask your pardon, mem?" said Christina, with great respect.

"Oh, go away, and get me something to eat!"

And in fact Miss White made a very good dinner, though the things had to
be placed before her on her dressing-table. And her rage and indignation
did not prevent her having, after all a glass or two of the claret-wine.
And then she permitted Hamish to come in and light the swinging lamp;
and thereafter Christina made up one of the two narrow beds. Miss White
was left a