\"Oneoftheotherships？\"
\"Weshouldbetherenow，oratanyratetomorrow。\"
\"WellthenI’mgladitisn’toneoftheothers\"——andIsmiledattheyoungladyonmyarm。Mywordsofferedherachancetosaysomethingappreciative，andgavehimoneevenmore；butneitherJaspernorGraceMavistookadvantageoftheoccasion。Whattheydiddo，I
noticed，wastolookateachotherratherfixedlyaninstant；afterwhichsheturnedhereyessilentlytothesea。Shemadenomovementandutterednosound，contrivingtogivemethesensethatshehadallatoncebecomeperfectlypassive，thatshesomehowdeclinedresponsibility。WeremainedstandingtherewithJasperinfrontofus，andifthecontactofherarmdidn’tsuggestIshouldgiveherup，neitherdiditintimatethatwehadbetterpasson。Ihadnoideaofgivingherup，albeitoneofthethingsIseemedtoreadjustthenintoJasper’scountenancewasafineimplicationthatshewashisproperty。Hiseyesmetmineforamoment，anditwasexactlyasifhehadsaidtome\"Iknowwhatyouthink，butIdon’tcarearap。\"
WhatIreallythoughtwasthathewasselfishbeyondthelimits：
thatwasthesubstanceofmylittlerevelation。Youthisalmostalwaysselfish，justasitisalmostalwaysconceited，and，afterall，whenit’scombinedwithhealthandgoodparts，goodlooksandgoodspirits，ithasarighttobe，andIeasilyforgiveitifitbereallyyouth。Stillit’saquestionofdegree，andwhatstuckoutofJasperNettlepoint——if，ofcourse，onehadtheintelligenceforit——
wasthathisegotismhadahardness，hisloveofhisownwayanavidity。Theseelementswerejauntyandprosperous，theywereaccustomedtoprevail。Hewasfond，veryfond，ofwomen；theywerenecessarytohim——thatwasinhistype；buthewasn’tintheleastinlovewithGraceMavis。AmongthereflexionsIquicklymadethiswastheonethatwasmosttothepoint。Therewasadegreeofawkwardness，afteraminute，inthewaywewereplantedthere，thoughtheapprehensionofitwasdoubtlessnotintheleastwithhimself。
Todissimulatemyownshareinit，atanyrate，Iaskedhimhowhismothermightbe。
Hisanswerwasunexpected。\"Youhadbettergodownandsee。\"
\"NottillMissMavisistiredofme。\"
ShesaidnothingtothisandImadeherwalkagain。Forsomeminutesshefailedtospeak；then，ratherabruptly，shebegan：\"I’veseenyoutalkingtothatladywhositsatourtable——theonewhohassomanychildren。\"
\"Mrs。Peck？Ohyes，onehasinevitablytalkedwithMrs。Peck。\"
\"Doyouknowherverywell？\"
\"Onlyasoneknowspeopleatsea。Anacquaintancemakesitself。Itdoesn’tmeanverymuch。\"
\"Shedoesn’tspeaktome——shemightifshewanted。\"
\"That’sjustwhatshesaysofyou——thatyoumightspeaktoher。\"
\"Ohifshe’swaitingforthat！\"saidmycompanionwithalaugh。Thensheadded：\"Shelivesinourstreet，nearlyopposite。\"
\"Precisely。That’sthereasonwhyshethinksyoucoyorhaughty。
Shehasseenyousooftenandseemstoknowsomuchaboutyou。\"
\"Whatdoessheknowaboutme？\"
\"Ahyoumustaskher——Ican’ttellyou！\"
\"Idon’tcarewhatsheknows，\"saidmyyounglady。Afteramomentshewenton：\"ShemusthaveseenIain’tverysociable。\"Andthen，\"Whatareyoulaughingat？\"sheasked。
\"Well\"——myamusementwasdifficulttoexplain——\"you’renotverysociable，andyetsomehowyouare。Mrs。Peckis，atanyrate，andthoughtthatoughttomakeiteasyforyoutoenterintoconversationwithher。\"
\"OhIdon’tcareforherconversation——Iknowwhatitamountsto。\"I
madenoreply——Iscarcelyknewwhatreplytomake——andthegirlwenton：\"IknowwhatshethinksandIknowwhatshesays。\"StillIwassilent，butthenextmomentIsawmydiscretionhadbeenwasted，forMissMavisputtomestraight：\"DoesshemakeoutthatsheknowsMr。
Porterfield？\"
\"No，sheonlyclaimssheknowsaladywhoknowshim。\"
\"Yes，that’sit——Mrs。Jeremie。Mrs。Jeremie’sanidiot！\"Iwasn’tinapositiontocontrovertthis，andpresentlymyyoungladysaidshewouldsitdown。Ileftherinherchair——Isawthatshepreferredit——andwanderedtoadistance。AfewminuteslaterImetJasperagain，andhestoppedofhisownaccordtosay：\"Weshallbeinaboutsixintheeveningofoureleventhday——theypromiseit。\"
\"Ifnothinghappens，ofcourse。\"
\"Well，what’sgoingtohappen？\"
\"That’sjustwhatI’mwondering！\"AndIturnedawayandwentbelowwiththefoolishbutinnocentsatisfactionofthinkingIhadmystifiedhim。
CHAPTERIV
\"Idon’tknowwhattodo，andyoumusthelpme，\"Mrs。Nettlepointsaidtome，thatevening，assoonasIlookedin。
\"I’lldowhatIcan——butwhat’sthematter？\"
\"Shehasbeencryinghereandgoingon——shehasquiteupsetme。\"
\"Crying？Shedoesn’tlooklikethat。\"
\"Exactly，andthat’swhatstartledme。Shecameintoseemethisafternoon，asshehasdonebefore，andwetalkedoftheweatherandtherunoftheshipandthemannersofthestewardessandothersuchtrifles，andthensuddenly，inthemidstofit，asshesatthere，onnovisiblepretext，sheburstintotears。Iaskedherwhatailedherandtriedtocomforther，butshedidn’texplain；shesaiditwasnothing，theeffectofthesea，ofthemonotony，oftheexcitement，ofleavinghome。Iaskedherifithadanythingtodowithherprospects，withhermarriage；whethershefindsasthisdrawsnearthatherheartisn’tinit。Itoldhershemustn’tbenervous，thatIcouldenterintothat——inshortIsaidwhatIcould。AllsherepliedwasthatsheISnervous，verynervous，butthatitwasalreadyover；andthenshejumpedupandkissedmeandwentaway。
Doesshelookasifshehasbeencrying？\"Mrs。Nettlepointwoundup。
\"HowcanItell，whensheneverquitsthathorridveil？It’sasifshewereashamedtoshowherface。\"
\"She’skeepingitforLiverpool。ButIdon’tlikesuchincidents，\"
saidMrs。Nettlepoint。\"IthinkIoughttogoabove。\"
\"Andisthatwhereyouwantmetohelpyou？\"
\"Ohwithyourarmandthatsortofthing，yes。ButImayhavetolooktoyouforsomethingmore。Ifeelasifsomethingweregoingtohappen。\"
\"That’sexactlywhatIsaidtoJasperthismorning。\"
\"Andwhatdidhesay？\"
\"Heonlylookedinnocent——asifhethoughtImeantafogorastorm。\"
\"Heavenforbid——itisn’tthat！Ishallneverbegood-naturedagain，\"
Mrs。Nettlepointwenton；\"neverhaveagirlputonmethatway。Youalwayspayforit——therearealwaystiresomecomplications。WhatI’mafraidofisafterwegetthere。She’llthrowupherengagement；
therewillbedreadfulscenes；Ishallbemixedupwiththemandhavetolookafterherandkeepherwithme。Ishallhavetostaytherewithhertillshecanbesentback，oreventakeheruptoLondon。
Doyouseeallthat？\"
Ilistenedrespectfully；afterwhichIobserved：\"You’reafraidofyourson。\"
Shealsohadapause。\"Itdependsonhowyoumeanit。\"
\"Therearethingsyoumightsaytohim——andwithyourmanner；becauseyouhaveone，youknow，whenyouchoose。\"
\"Verylikely，butwhat’smymannertohis？Besides，IHAVEsaideverythingtohim。ThatisI’vesaidthegreatthing——thathe’smakingherimmenselytalkedabout。\"
\"Andofcourseinanswertothathehasaskedyouhowyouknow，andyou’vetoldhimyouhaveitfromme。\"
\"I’vehadtotellhim；andhesaysit’snoneofyourbusiness。\"
\"Iwishhe’dsaythat，\"Iremarked，\"tomyface。\"
\"He’lldosoperfectlyifyougivehimachance。That’swhereyoucanhelpme。Quarrelwithhim——he’srathergoodataquarrel；andthatwilldiverthimanddrawhimoff。\"
\"ThenI’mready，\"Ireturned，\"todiscussthematterwithhimfortherestofthevoyage。\"
\"Verywell；Icountonyou。Buthe’llaskyou，asheasksme，whatthedeuceyouwanthimtodo。\"
\"Togotobed！\"——andI’mafraidIlaughed。
\"Ohitisn’tajoke。\"
Ididn’twanttobeirritating，butImademypoint。\"That’sexactlywhatItoldyouatfirst。\"
\"Yes，butdon’texult；Ihatepeoplewhoexult。Jasperasksofme，\"
shewenton，\"whyheshouldmindherbeingtalkedaboutifshedoesn’tminditherself。\"
\"I’lltellhimwhy，\"Ireplied；andMrs。Nettlepointsaidsheshouldbeexceedinglyobligedtomeandrepeatedthatshewouldindeedtakethefield。
IlookedforJasperabovethatsameevening，butcircumstancesdidn’tfavourmyquest。Ifoundhim——thatisIgatheredhewasagainensconcedbehindthelifeboatwithMissMavis；buttherewasaneedlessviolenceinbreakingintotheircommunion，andIputoffourinterviewtillthenextday。ThenItookthefirstopportunity，atbreakfast，tomakesureofit。HewasinthesaloonwhenIwentinandwaspreparingtoleavethetable；butIstoppedhimandaskedifhewouldgivemeaquarterofanhourondeckalittlelater——therewassomethingparticularIwantedtosaytohim。Hesaid\"Ohyes，ifyoulike\"——withjustavisiblesurprise，butIthoughtwithplentyofassurance。WhenIhadfinishedmybreakfastIfoundhimsmokingontheforward-deckandIimmediatelybegan：\"I’mgoingtosaysomethingyouwon’tatalllike；toaskyouaquestionyou’llprobablydenounceforimpertinent。\"
\"IcertainlyshallifIfinditso，\"saidJasperNettlepoint。
\"Well，ofcoursemywarninghasmeantthatIdon’tcareifyoudo。
I’magooddealolderthanyouandI’mafriend——ofmanyyears——ofyourmother。There’snothingIlikelessthantobemeddlesome，butIthinkthesethingsgivemeacertainright——asortofprivilege。
Besideswhichmyinquirywillspeakforitself。\"
\"Whysomanydamnedpreliminaries？\"myyoungmanaskedthroughhissmoke。
Welookedintoeachother’seyesamoment。Whatindeedwashismother’smanner——herbestmanner——comparedwithhis？\"Areyoupreparedtoberesponsible？\"
\"Toyou？\"
\"Dearno——totheyoungladyherself。I’mspeakingofcourseofMissMavis。\"
\"Ahyes，mymothertellsmeyouhavehergreatlyonyourmind。\"
\"Sohasyourmotherherself——now。\"
\"She’ssogoodastosayso——toobligeyou。\"
\"She’dobligemeagreatdealmorebyreassuringme。IknowperfectlyofyourknowingI’vetoldherthatMissMavisisgreatlytalkedabout。\"
\"Yes，butwhatonearthdoesitmatter？\"
\"Itmattersasasign。\"
\"Asignofwhat？\"
\"Thatshe’sinafalseposition。\"
Jasperpuffedhiscigarwithhiseyesonthehorizon，andIhad，alittleunexpectedly，thesenseofproducingacertaineffectonhim。
\"Idon’tknowwhetherit’sYOURbusiness，whatyou’reattemptingtodiscussbutitreallystrikesmeit’snoneofmine。WhathaveItodowiththetattlewithwhichapackofoldwomenconsolethemselvesfornotbeingsea-sick？\"
\"DoyoucallittattlethatMissMavisisinlovewithyou？\"
\"Drivelling。\"
\"Then，\"Iretorted，\"you’reveryungrateful。Thetattleofapackofoldwomenhasthisimportance，thatshesuspects，orsheknows，itexists，andthatdecentgirlsareforthemostpartverysensitivetothatsortofthing。Tobepreparednottoheeditinthiscaseshemusthaveareason，andthereasonmustbetheoneI’vetakenthelibertytocallyourattentionto。\"
\"Inlovewithmeinsixdays，justlikethat？\"——andhestilllookedawaythroughnarrowedeyelids。
\"There’snoaccountingfortastes，andsixdaysatseaareequivalenttosixtyonland。Idon’twanttomakeyoutooproud。Ofcourseifyourecogniseyourresponsibilityit’sallrightandI’venothingtosay。\"
\"Idon’tseewhatyoumean，\"hepresentlyreturned。
\"Surelyyououghttohavethoughtofthatbythistime。She’sengagedtobemarried，andthegentlemanshe’sengagedtoistomeetheratLiverpool。Thewholeshipknowsit——though_I_didn’ttellthem！——andthewholeship’swatchingher。It’simpertinentifyoulike，justasIammyself，butwemakealittleworldheretogetherandwecan’tblinkitsconditions。WhatIaskyouiswhetheryou’repreparedtoallowhertogiveupthegentlemanI’vejustmentionedforyoursake。\"
Jasperspokeinamomentasifhedidn’tunderstand。\"Formysake？\"
\"Tomarryherifshebreakswithhim。\"
Heturnedhiseyesfromthehorizontomyown，andIfoundastrangeexpressioninthem。\"HasMissMaviscommissionedyoutogointothat？\"
\"Notintheleast。\"
\"Wellthen，Idon’tquitesee——！\"
\"Itisn’tasfromanotherImakeit。Letitcomefromyourself——TO
yourself。\"
\"Lord，youmustthinkIleadmyselfalife！\"hecriedasincompassionformysimplicity。\"That’saquestiontheyoungladymayputtomeanymomentitpleasesher。\"
\"Letmethenexpressthehopethatshewill。Butwhatwillyouanswer？\"
\"Mydearsir，itseemstomethatinspiteofallthetitlesyou’veenumeratedyou’venoreasontoexpectI’lltellyou。\"Heturnedaway，andIdedicatedinperfectsincerityadeepsoresightothethoughtofouryoungwoman。Atthis，undertheimpressionofit，hefacedmeagainand，lookingatmefromheadtofoot，demanded：\"Whatisityouwantmetodo？\"
\"Iputittoyourmotherthatyououghttogotobed。\"
\"Youhadbetterdothatyourself！\"hereplied。
Thistimehewalkedoff，andIreflectedratherdolefullythattheonlyclearresultofmyundertakingwouldprobablyhavebeentomakeitvividtohimthatshewasinlovewithhim。Mrs。Nettlepointcameupasshehadannounced，butthedaywashalfover：itwasnearlythreeo’clock。Shewasaccompaniedbyherson，whoestablishedherondeck，arrangedherchairandhershawls，sawshewasprotectedfromsunandwind，andforanhourwasveryproperlyattentive。
WhilethiswentonGraceMaviswasnotvisible，nordidshereappearduringthewholeafternoon。Ihadn’tobservedthatshehadasyetbeenabsentfromthedeckforsolongaperiod。Jasperlefthismother，butcamebackatintervalstoseehowshegoton，andwhensheaskedwhereMissMavismightbeansweredthathehadn’ttheleastidea。Isatwithmyfriendatherparticularrequest：shetoldmesheknewthatifIdidn’tMrs。PeckandMrs。Gotchwouldmaketheirapproach，sothatImustactasawatch-dog。Shewasflurriedandfatiguedwithhermigration，andIthinkthatGraceMavis’schoosingthisoccasionforretirementsuggestedtoheralittlethatshehadbeenmadeafoolof。Sheremarkedthatthegirl’snotbeingthereshowedherforthebarbariansheonlycouldbe，andthatsheherselfwasreallyverygoodsotohaveputherselfout；herchargewasamerebore：thatwastheendofit。Icouldseethatmycompanion’sadventquickenedthespeculativeactivityoftheotherladiestheywatchedherfromtheoppositesideofthedeck，keepingtheireyesfixedonherverymuchasthemanatthewheelkepthisonthecourseoftheship。Mrs。Peckplainlyhaddesigns，anditwasfromthisdangerthatMrs。Nettlepointavertedherface。
\"It’sjustaswesaid，\"sheremarkedtomeaswesatthere。\"It’slikethebucketsinthewell。WhenIcomeupeverythingelsegoesdown。\"
\"No，notatalleverythingelse——sinceJasperremainshere。\"
\"Remains？Idon’tseehim。\"
\"Hecomesandgoes——it’sthesamething。\"
\"Hegoesmorethanhecomes。Butn’enparlonsplus；Ihaven’tgainedanything。Idon’tadmiretheseaatall——whatisitbutamagnifiedwater-tank？Ishan’tcomeupagain。\"
\"I’veanideashe’llstayinhercabinnow，\"Isaid。\"Shetellsmeshehasonetoherself。\"Mrs。Nettlepointrepliedthatshemightdoassheliked，andIrepeatedtoherthelittleconversationIhadhadwithJasper。
Shelistenedwithinterest，but\"Marryher？Mercy！\"sheexclaimed。
\"Ilikethefinefreedomwithwhichyougivemysonaway。\"
\"Youwouldn’tacceptthat？\"
\"WhyintheworldshouldI？\"
\"ThenIdon’tunderstandyourposition。\"
\"Goodheavens，IHAVEnone！Itisn’tapositiontobetiredofthewholething。\"
\"Youwouldn’tacceptiteveninthecaseIputtohim——thatofherbelievingshehadbeenencouragedtothrowoverpoorPorterfield？\"
\"Noteven——noteven。Whocanknowwhatshebelieves？\"
Itbroughtmebacktowherewehadstartedfrom。\"ThenyoudoexactlywhatIsaidyouwould——youshowmeafineexampleofmaternalimmorality。\"
\"Maternalfiddlesticks！Itwasshewhobeganit。\"
\"Thenwhydidyoucomeuptoday？\"Iasked。
\"Tokeepyouquiet。\"
Mrs。Nettlepoint’sdinnerwasservedondeck，butIwentintothesaloon。Jasperwasthere，butnotGraceMavis，asIhadhalf-
expected。Isoughttolearnfromhimwhathadbecomeofher，ifshewereill——hemusthavethoughtIhadanodiouspertinacity——andherepliedthatheknewnothingwhateverabouther。Mrs。Pecktalkedtome——ortriedto——ofMrs。Nettlepoint，expatiatingonthegreatinterestithadbeentoseeher；onlyitwasapityshedidn’tseemmoresociable。TothisImadeanswerthatshewastobeexcusedonthescoreofhealth。
\"Youdon’tmeantosayshe’ssickonthispond？\"
\"No，she’sunwellinanotherway。\"
\"IguessIknowtheway！\"Mrs。Pecklaughed。Andthensheadded：\"I
supposeshecameuptolookafterherpet。\"
\"Herpet？\"Isetmyface。
\"WhyMissMavis。We’vetalkedenoughaboutthat。\"
\"Quiteenough。Idon’tknowwhatthathashadtodowithit。MissMavis，sofarasI’venoticed，hasn’tbeenabovetoday。\"
\"Ohitgoesonallthesame。\"
\"Itgoeson？\"
\"Well，it’stoolate。\"
\"Toolate？\"
\"Well，you’llsee。There’llbearow。\"
Thiswasn’tcomforting，butIdidn’trepeatitondeck。Mrs。
Nettlepointreturnedearlytohercabin，professingherselfinfinitelyspent。Ididn’tknowwhat\"wenton，\"butGraceMaviscontinuednottoshow。Ilookedinlate，foragood-nighttomyfriend，andlearnedfromherthatthegirlhadn’tbeentoher。Shehadsentthestewardesstoherroomfornews，toseeifshewereillandneededassistance，andthestewardesshadcomebackwithmerementionofhernotbeingthere。Iwentaboveafterthis；thenightwasnotquitesofairandthedeckalmostempty。InamomentJasperNettlepointandouryoungladymovedpastmetogether。\"Ihopeyou’rebetter！\"Icalledafterher；andshetossedmeoverhershoulder——\"Ohyes，Ihadaheadache；buttheairnowdoesmegood！\"
Iwentdownagain——Iwastheonlypersontherebutthey，andIwantednottoseemtodogtheirsteps——and，returningtoMrs。Nettlepoint’sroom，found（herdoorwasopentothelittlepassage）thatshewasstillsittingup。
\"She’sallright！\"Isaid。\"She’sonthedeckwithJasper。\"
Thegoodladylookedupatmefromherbook。\"Ididn’tknowyoucalledthatallright。\"
\"Well，it’sbetterthansomethingelse。\"
\"Thanwhatelse？\"
\"SomethingIwasalittleafraidof。\"Mrs。Nettlepointcontinuedtolookatme；sheaskedagainwhatthatmightbe。\"I’lltellyouwhenwe’reashore，\"Isaid。
ThenextdayIwaitedonherattheusualhourofmymorningvisit，andfoundhernotalittledistraught。\"Thesceneshavebegun，\"shesaid；\"youknowItoldyouIshouldn’tgetthroughwithoutthem！Youmademenervouslastnight——Ihaven’ttheleastideawhatyoumeant；
butyoumademehorriblynervous。Shecameintoseemeanhourago，andIhadthecouragetosaytoher：’Idon’tknowwhyIshouldn’ttellyoufranklythatI’vebeenscoldingmysonaboutyou。’OfcoursesheaskedwhatImeantbythat，andIletherknow。’Itseemstomehedragsyouabouttheshiptoomuchforagirlinyourposition。Hehastheairofnotrememberingthatyoubelongtosomeoneelse。There’sawantoftasteandevenawantofrespectinit。’
Thatbroughtonanoutbreak：shebecameveryviolent。\"
\"Doyoumeanindignant？\"
\"Yes，indignant，andaboveallflusteredandexcited——atmypresumingtosupposeherrelationswithmysonnottheverysimplestintheworld。ImightscoldhimasmuchasIliked——thatwasbetweenourselves；butshedidn’tseewhyIshouldmentionsuchmatterstoherself。DidIthinksheallowedhimtotreatherwithdisrespect？
Thatideawasn’tmuchofacomplimenttoeitherofthem！Hehadtreatedherbetterandbeenkindertoherthanmostotherpeople——
therewereveryfewontheshipwhohadn’tbeeninsulting。Sheshouldbegladenoughwhenshegotoffit，toherownpeople，tosomeonewhomnobodywouldhavearighttospeakof。Whatwasthereinherpositionthatwasn’tperfectlynatural？whatwastheideaofmakingafussaboutherposition？DidImeanthatshetookittooeasily——thatshedidn’tthinkasmuchassheoughtaboutMr。
Porterfield？Didn’tIbelieveshewasattachedtohim——didn’tI
believeshewasjustcountingthehourstillshesawhim？Thatwouldbethehappiestmomentofherlife。ItshowedhowlittleIknewherifIthoughtanythingelse。\"
\"Allthatmusthavebeenratherfine——Ishouldhavelikedtohearit，\"Isaidafterquitehangingonmyfriend’slips。\"Andwhatdidyoureply？\"
\"OhIgrovelled；IassuredherthatIaccusedher——asregardsmyson——
ofnothingworsethananexcessofgoodnature。Shehelpedhimtopasshistime——heoughttobeimmenselyobliged。AlsothatitwouldbeaveryhappymomentformetoowhenIshouldhandherovertoMr。
Porterfield。\"
\"Andwillyoucomeuptoday？\"
\"Noindeed——Ithinkshe’lldobeautifullynow。\"
Iheavedthistimeasighofrelief。\"All’swellthatendswell！\"
Jasperspentthatdayagreatdealoftimewithhismother。Shehadtoldmehowmuchshehadlackedhithertoproperopportunitytotalkoverwithhimtheirmovementsafterdisembarking。Everythingchangesalittlethelasttwoorthreedaysofavoyage；thespellisbrokenandnewcombinationstakeplace。GraceMaviswasneitherondecknoratdinner，andIdrewMrs。Peck’sattentiontotheextremeproprietywithwhichshenowconductedherself。Shehadspentthedayinmeditationandjudgeditbesttocontinuetomeditate。
\"Ahshe’safraid，\"saidmyimplacableneighbour。
\"Afraidofwhat？\"
\"Well，thatwe’lltelltaleswhenwegetthere。\"
\"Whomdoyoumeanby’we’？\"
\"Well，thereareplenty——onashiplikethis。\"
\"ThenIthink，\"Ireturned，\"wewon’t。\"
\"Maybewewon’thavethechance，\"saidthedreadfullittlewoman。
\"Ohatthatmoment\"——Ispokefromafullexperience——\"universalgenialityreigns。\"
Mrs。Peckhoweverknewlittleofanysuchlaw。\"Iguessshe’safraidallthesame。\"
\"Somuchthebetter！\"
\"Yes——somuchthebetter！\"
Allthenextdaytoothegirlremainedinvisible，andMrs。
Nettlepointtoldmeshehadn’tlookedin。SheherselfhadaccordinglyinquiredbythestewardessifshemightbereceivedinMissMavis’sownquarters，andtheyoungladyhadrepliedthattheywerelitteredupwiththingsandunfitforvisitors：shewaspackingatrunkover。Jaspermadeupforhisdevotiontohismotherthedaybeforebynowspendingagreatdealofhistimeinthesmoking-room。
Iwantedtosaytohim\"Thisismuchbetter，\"butIthoughtitwisertoholdmytongue。IndeedIhadbeguntofeeltheemotionofprospectivearrival——thesenseofthereturntoEuropealwayskeptitsintensity——andhadtherebythelessattentionforothermatters。
Itwilldoubtlessappeartothecriticalreaderthatmyexpenditureofinteresthadbeenoutofproportiontothevulgarappearancesofwhichmystorygivesanaccount，buttothisIcanonlyreplythattheeventwastojustifyme。Wesightedland，thedimyetrichcoastofIreland，aboutsunset，andIleanedonthebulwarkandtookitin。
\"Itdoesn’tlooklikemuch，doesit？\"Iheardavoicesay，besideme；
whereupon，turning，IfoundGraceMavisathand。Almostforthefirsttimeshehadherveilup，andIthoughtherverypale。
\"Itwillbemoretomorrow，\"Isaid。
\"Ohyes，agreatdealmore。\"
\"Thefirstsightofland，atsea，changeseverything，\"Iwenton。
\"Italwaysaffectsmeaswakingupfromadream。It’sareturntoreality。\"
Foramomentshemademenoresponse；thenshesaid\"Itdoesn’tlookveryrealyet。\"
\"No，andmeanwhile，thislovelyevening，onecanputitthatthedream’sstillpresent。\"
Shelookedupatthesky，whichhadabrightness，thoughthelightofthesunhadleftitandthatofthestarshadn’tbegun。\"ItISalovelyevening。\"
\"Ohyes，withthisweshalldo。\"
Shestoodsomemomentsmore，whilethegrowingduskeffacedthelineofthelandmorerapidlythanourprogressmadeitdistinct。Shesaidnothingmore，sheonlylookedinfrontofher；butherveryquietnesspromptedmetosomethingsuggestiveofsympathyandservice。Itwasdifficultindeedtostriketherightnote——somethingsseemedtoowideofthemarkandotherstooimportunate。Atlast，unexpectedly，sheappearedtogivememychance。Irrelevantly，abruptlyshebrokeout：\"Didn’tyoutellmeyouknewMr。
Porterfield？\"
\"Dearme，yes——Iusedtoseehim。I’veoftenwantedtospeaktoyouofhim。\"
SheturnedherfaceonmeandinthedeepenedeveningIimaginedhermorepale。\"Whatgoodwouldthatdo？\"
\"Whyitwouldbeapleasure，\"Irepliedratherfoolishly。
\"Doyoumeanforyou？\"
\"Well，yes——callitthat，\"Ismiled。
\"Didyouknowhimsowell？\"
MysmilebecamealaughandIlostalittlemyconfidence。\"You’renoteasytomakespeechesto。\"
\"Ihatespeeches！\"Thewordscamefromherlipswithaforcethatsurprisedme；theywereloudandhard。ButbeforeIhadtimetowondershewentonalittledifferently。\"Shallyouknowhimwhenyouseehim？\"
\"Perfectly，Ithink。\"HermannerwassostrangethatIhadtonoticeitinsomeway，andIjudgedthebestwaywasjocularly；soIadded：
\"Shan’tyou？\"
\"Ohperhapsyou’llpointhimout！\"Andshewalkedquicklyaway。AsIlookedafterhertherecametomeaperverse，ratheraprovokingconsciousnessofhavingduringthepreviousdays，andespeciallyinspeakingtoJasperNettlepoint，interferedwithhersituationinsomedegreetoherloss。Therewasanoddpangformeinseeinghermoveaboutalone；IfeltsomehowresponsibleforitandaskedmyselfwhyI
couldn’thavekeptmyhandsoff。IhadseenJasperinthesmoking-
roommorethanoncethatday，asIpassedit，andhalfanhourbeforethishadobserved，throughtheopendoor，thathewasthere。Hehadbeenwithhersomuchthatwithouthimshenowstruckoneasbereavedandforsaken。Thiswasreallybetter，nodoubt，butsuperficiallyitmoved——andIadmitwiththelastinconsequence——one’spity。Mrs。
Peckwoulddoubtlesshaveassuredmethattheirseparationwasgammon：theydidn’tshowtogetherondeckandinthesaloon，buttheymadeitupelsewhere。Thesecretplacesonshipboardarenotnumerous；Mrs。Peck’s\"elsewhere\"wouldhavebeenvague，andIknownotwhatlicenceherimaginationtook。ItwasdistinctthatJasperhadfallenoff，butofcoursewhathadpassedbetweenthemonthisscorewasn’tsoandcouldneverbe。Lateron，throughhismother，I
hadHISversionofthat，butImayremarkthatIgaveitnocredit。
PoorMrs。Nettlepoint，ontheotherhand，wasofcoursetogiveitall。Iwasalmostcapable，afterthegirlhadleftme，ofgoingtomyyoungmanandsaying：\"Afterall，doreturntoheralittle，justtillwegetin！Itwon’tmakeanydifferenceafterweland。\"AndI
don’tthinkitwasthefearhewouldtellmeIwasanidiotthatpreventedme。AtanyratethenexttimeIpassedthedoorofthesmoking-roomIsawhehadleftit。IpaidmyusualvisittoMrs。
Nettlepointthatnight，butItroubledhernofurtheraboutMissMavis。Shehadmadeuphermindthateverythingwassmoothandsettlednow，anditseemedtomeIhadworriedher，andthatshehadworriedherself，insufficiency。Ilefthertoenjoythedeepeningforetasteofarrival，whichhadtakenpossessionofhermind。BeforeturninginIwentaboveandfoundmorepassengersondeckthanIhadeverseensolate。Jaspermovedaboutamongthemalone，butI
forboretojoinhim。ThecoastofIrelandhaddisappeared，butthenightandtheseawereperfect。Onthewaytomycabin，whenIcamedown，Imetthestewardessinoneofthepassages，andtheideaenteredmyheadtosaytoher：\"DoyouhappentoknowwhereMissMavisis？\"
\"Whyshe’sinherroom，sir，atthishour。\"
\"DoyousupposeIcouldspeaktoher？\"IthadcomeintomymindtoaskherwhyshehadwantedtoknowofmeifIshouldrecogniseMr。
Porterfield。
\"Nosir，\"saidthestewardess；\"shehasgonetobed。\"
\"That’sallright。\"AndIfollowedtheyounglady’sexcellentexample。
Thenextmorning，whileIdressed，thestewardofmysideoftheshipcametomeasusualtoseewhatIwanted。Butthefirstthinghesaidto，mewas：\"Ratherabadjob，sir——apassengermissing。\"AndwhileItookIscarceknowwhatinstantchillfromit，\"Alady，sir，\"
hewenton——\"whomIthinkyouknew。PoorMissMavis，sir。\"
\"MISSING？\"Icried——staringathimandhorror-stricken。
\"She’snotontheship。Theycan’tfindher。\"
\"ThenwheretoGodisshe？\"
Irecallhisqueerface。\"Wellsir，IsupposeyouknowthataswellasI。\"
\"Doyoumeanshehasjumpedoverboard？\"
\"Sometimeinthenight，sir——onthequiet。Butit’sbeyondeveryone，thewaysheescapednotice。Theyusuallysees’em，sir。Itmusthavebeenabouthalf-pasttwo。Lord，butshewassharp，sir。
Shedidn’tsomuchasmakeasplash。Theysayshe’ADcomeagainstherwill，sir。\"
Ihaddroppeduponmysofa——Ifeltfaint。Themanwenton，likingtotalkaspersonsofhisclassdowhentheyhavesomethinghorribletotell。Sheusuallyrangforthestewardessearly，butthismorningofcoursetherehadbeennoring。Thestewardesshadgoneinallthesameabouteighto’clockandfoundthecabinempty。Thatwasaboutanhourprevious。Herthingswerethereinconfusion——thethingssheusuallyworewhenshewentabove。Thestewardessthoughtshehadbeenabitoddthenightbefore，buthadwaitedalittleandthengoneback。MissMavishadn’tturnedup——andshedidn’tturnup。Thestewardessbegantolookforher——shehadn’tbeenseenondeckorinthesaloon。Besides，shewasn’tdressed——nottoshowherself；allherclotheswereinherroom。Therewasanotherlady，anoldlady，Mrs。Nettlepoint——Iwouldknowher——thatshewassometimeswith，butthestewardesshadbeenwithHERandknewMissMavishadn’tcomenearherthatmorning。ShehadspokentoHIMandtheyhadtakenaquietlook——theyhadhuntedeverywhere。Aship’sabigplace，butyoudidcometotheendofit，andifapersonwasn’ttherewhythereitwas。
Inshortanhourhadpassedandtheyoungladywasnotaccountedfor：
fromwhichImightjudgeifsheeverwouldbe。Thewatchcouldn’taccountforher，butnodoubtthefishesintheseacould——poormiserablepitifullady！ThestewardessandhehadofcoursethoughtittheirdutytospeakatoncetotheDoctor，andtheDoctorhadspokenimmediatelytotheCaptain。TheCaptaindidn’tlikeit——theyneverdid，buthe’dtrytokeepitquiet——theyalwaysdid。
BythetimeIsucceededinpullingmyselftogetherandgettingon，afterafashion，therestofmyclothesIhadlearnedthatMrs。
Nettlepointwouldn’tyethavebeentold，unlessthestewardesshadbrokenittoherwithinthepreviousfewminutes。Hersonknew，theyounggentlemanontheothersideoftheship——hehadtheothersteward；mymanhadseenhimcomeoutofhiscabinandrushabove，justbeforehecameintome。HeHADgoneabove，mymanwassure；hehadn’tgonetotheoldlady’scabin。Icatchagainthesenseofmydreadfullyseeingsomethingatthatmoment，catchthewildflash，underthesteward’swords，ofJasperNettlepointleaping，withamadcompunctioninhisyoungagility，overthesideoftheship。I
hastentoadd，however，thatnosuchincidentwasdestinedtocontributeitshorrortopoorGraceMavis’sunwitnessedandunlightedtragicact。Whatfollowedwasmiserableenough，butIcanonlyglanceatit。WhenIgottoMrs。Nettlepoint’sdoorshewastherewithashawlabouther；thestewardesshadjusttoldherandshewasdashingouttocometome。Imadehergoback——IsaidIwouldgoforJasper。IwentforhimbutImissedhim，partlynodoubtbecauseitwasreallyatfirsttheCaptainIwasafter。Ifoundthispersonageandfoundhimhighlyscandalised，buthegavemenohopethatwewereinerror，andhisdispleasure，expressedwithseamanlikestrength，wasadefinitesettlementofthequestion。Fromthedeck，whereI
merelyturnedroundandlooked，Isawthelightofanothersummerday，thecoastofIrelandgreenandnearandtheseaofamorecharmingcolourthanithadshownatall。WhenIcamebelowagainJasperhadpassedback；hehadgonetohiscabinandhismotherhadjoinedhimthere。HeremainedtheretillwereachedLiverpool——I
neversawhim。Hismother，afteralittle，athisrequest，lefthimalone。Alltheworldwentabovetolookatthelandandchatteraboutourtragedy，butthepoorladyspenttheday，dismallyenough，inherroom。Itseemedtome，thedreadfulday，intolerablylong；I
wasthinkingsoofvague，ofinconceivableyetinevitablePorterfield，andofmyhavingtofacehimsomehowonthemorrow。NowofcourseIknewwhyshehadaskedmeifIshouldrecognisehim；shehaddelegatedtomementallyacertainpleasantoffice。IgaveMrs。
PeckandMrs。Gotchawideberth——Icouldn’ttalktothem。Icould，oratleastIdidalittle，toMrs。Nettlepoint，butwithtoomanyreservesforcomfortoneitherside，sinceIquitefelthowlittleitwouldnowmakeforeasetomentionJaspertoher。Iwasobligedtoassumebymysilencethathehadhadnothingtodowithwhathadhappened；andofcourseIneverreallyascertainedwhatheHADhadtodo。Thesecretofwhatpassedbetweenhimandthestrangegirlwhowouldhavesacrificedhermarriagetohimonsoshortanacquaintanceremainsshutupinhisbreast。Hismother，Iknow，wenttohisdoorfromtimetotime，butherefusedheradmission。Thatevening，tobehumanataventure，Irequestedthestewardtogoinandaskhimifheshouldcaretoseeme，andthegoodmanreturnedwithananswerwhichhecandidlytransmitted。\"Notintheleast！\"——JasperapparentlywasalmostasscandalisedastheCaptain。
AtLiverpool，atthedock，whenwehadtouched，twentypeoplecameonboardandIhadalreadymadeoutMr。Porterfieldatadistance。Hewaslookingupatthesideofthegreatvesselwithdisappointmentwritten——formystrainedeyes——inhisface；disappointmentatnotseeingthewomanhehadsolongawaitedleanoveritandwaveherhandkerchieftohim。Everyonewaslookingathim，everyonebutshe——hisidentityflewaboutinamoment——andIwonderedifitdidn’tstrikehim。Heusedtobegauntandangular，buthadgrownalmostfatandstoopedalittle。Theintervalbetweenusdiminished——hewasontheplankandthenonthedeckwiththejostlingagentsoftheCustoms；toosoonformyequanimity。Imethiminstantly，however，tosavehimfromexposure——laidmyhandonhimanddrewhimaway，thoughIwassurehehadnoimpressionofhavingseenmebefore。ItwasnottillafterwardsthatIthoughtthisrathercharacteristicallydullofhim。Idrewhimfaraway——IwasconsciousofMrs。PeckandMrs。Gotch，lookingatusaswepassed——intotheemptystalesmoking-
room：heremainedspeechless，andthatstruckmeaslikehim。Ihadtospeakfirst，hecouldn’tevenrelievemebysaying\"Isanythingthematter？\"Ibrokegroundbyputtingit，feebly，thatshewasill。
Itwasadiremoment。