bin door. And now the door was tried--the knock
repeated. Disturbed, uncertain, he still hesitated--then, stepping
into the sitting-room, he closed the connecting door between it and the
bedroom, and unlocked and opened the door to the deck.

It was Henry Bliss.

"Ah, you're here, Jean!" the other exclaimed, with what was obviously
an attempt at unconcern, as he stepped into the cabin. "I've been
looking for you all over the ship. What are you doing up here in your
room alone, with all this gaiety going on below? Eh--what's the
matter?"

Jean stared at Henry Bliss a little sullenly. Since the other had
come, was there--it remained only to get rid of him as soon as possible.

"There is nothing the matter," he said shortly--and shrugged his
shoulders.

Henry Bliss frowned, and rubbed his hand over his chin nervously.

"Confound it, Jean!" he burst out abruptly. "I know better! You and
Myrna have been having another--er--another misunderstanding. In fact,
she--that is, I discovered it a few moments ago. I"--he glanced about
him as though to make sure they were alone, and caught Jean's arm
confidentially--"I spoke to her very seriously, very seriously about
it. I--I am sure it is nothing. It is only that you take these things
very much to heart, Jean, while she laughs at them."

"_Pardieu_!" ejaculated Jean ironically. "That is so!"

"No, no!" said Henry Bliss, hurriedly and in confusion. "No--I--that
is not what I meant, Jean. Not at all what I meant! I mean that if
she takes it lightly, it cannot--er--be so--er--"

"I know what you mean," said Jean moodily. "I have discovered it for
myself."

"Tut, tut!" protested Henry Bliss anxiously. "This will never do at
all, Jean! You must both make an effort to understand each other
better. Myrna is very--er--high-spirited--very! You see that, of
course, Jean--eh? Well? Tut, tut! That is all! You must not be too
firm or--er--exacting with her at first. I have found--that is, I have
not found that to be the most tactful way of handling her. Now slip on
your overcoat, my boy, and we'll go down together."

Again Jean shrugged his shoulders. Would it be necessary to open the
door and bow even Henry Bliss out?

"No," he said, with pointed finality; "not now. I prefer to remain
here for a little while--alone."

Henry Bliss, perturbed and upset, coughed uneasily--and suddenly began
to fumble through his pockets. His fingers encountering first