"What a sentiment!"

"I tell you I mean it. You have made life unbearable."

"I make your life unbearable?"

"Yes, you, Irene. You know I have loved you from the beginning. And you
have coquetted with me, played with me--as a cat plays with a mouse.
When I have endeavored to escape, you have drawn me back by smiles and
favor, and given me hope. Then it is coldness and disdain. I am tired of
it."

"I am sorry, Mr. Foster, if anything in my attitude has caused such an
impression. I have given you no special smiles or favors, no special
coldness or disdain."

"But I love you. I want you. I cannot live without you."

"You lived a long time without me, before we met."

"Yes, before we met. Before I fell under the spell of your personality.
You have hypnotized me, made yourself necessary to me. I am heartsick
all the time, thinking of you."

"Then you must get over it, Mr. Foster. I must think of myself."

"Then you do not care for me, at all?"

"I do, but only as an acquaintance."

"Not even as a friend?"

"I do not like to answer such pointed questions, sir; but, since you
ask, I will tell you. I do not like you, even as a friend. You demand so
much. You are very selfish, never considering my feelings at all, and
you often annoy me with your moods. Frankly, I am happier away from
you."

"My moods!" Foster repeated, bitterly. "You cause my moods. But I know
what the real trouble is. I was all right until Ross came along."

"You have no right, Mr. Foster," said the girl, angrily, "to bring
Lieutenant Ross' name into this discussion."

"Oh, I understand. Do you think he can marry you on his pay?"

"Mr. Ross' pay would not influence him, nor me."

"Well, I'll tell you this"--and Foster's voice became a snarl--"you two
won't be married. I'll see to it. I want you; and if I can't have you,
no one else shall."

"Whew!" whistled Ross, softly, while he smiled sweetly, and danced a
mental jig in the air. Then he danced a few steps of a real jig, to
apprise them of his coming. "Time to end this," he said; then called
out, cheerily: "Look out below," and entered the hatch.

"Got a bad habit," he said, as he descended, "of coming down this ladder
by the run. Must break myself, before I break my neck. Well, how are you
making out? Been looking around?"

The girl's face, pale but for two red spots in her cheeks, was turned
away from him as he stepped off the ladder, and she trembled visibly.
Foster, though flushe