sort of way. He's good-looking and has a certain gentleness
of manner. It may be dulness, but it's what women like. I think her
father, though he felt her a great burden, wanted to do the best he
could for her, without too much trouble. He saw plainly the dangers she
was surrounded by, and was glad to get her married to a quiet young
American, who had no vices and would probably be kind to her. He told me
he wanted her to marry an American, because they made the best husbands.
Look at them now. It is always the same thing,--either silence or that
difficult sort of talk. She has to do the most of it, you see, and in
English. He literally knows not a word in any other tongue."

II.

It was beautiful weather; and Noel, being a good sailor, spent much of
his time on deck. Wherever he went about the ship, his eyes continually
sought Mrs. Dallas. Her beauty and singular history interested him much.
He also made a close study of the husband. So far he had not cared to
avail himself of the opportunity of making their acquaintance, which he
knew Miller would gladly have given him.

On the afternoon of the second day out he looked up from his book, and
found Mr. and Mrs. Dallas seated near him. He was partly hid by a pile
of rope, over which, however, it was easy to see them. He folded his
paper noiselessly, and, leaning back, began to watch them furtively.
As usual, they were silent. The man was smoking cigarettes one after
another, and looking apathetically at the water. The woman's eyes were
on the water, too; but their expression was certainly not apathetic.
Noel had never been so puzzled to read a face. He was not only an
artist, but also a very human-hearted man; and he longed to go beneath
that lovely surface, and read the thoughts of this woman's mind. Now and
then she turned a puzzled gaze upon her husband, who seemed completely
unconscious of both it and her. Once she spoke, and the strong accent
in her painstaking English was fascinating to Noel's ears. She only
inquired if her husband were comfortable and satisfied to stay here.
When he answered affirmatively, she spoke again,--this time so low that
Noel caught only the last word, "Robert." It was pronounced in the
French manner, and came from her lips very winningly.

"Can't you say Robert?" said her husband, bluntly. "People will laugh
at you if you talk like that."

"I vill try," she answered, and turned her eyes away across the water.
Noel fancied he