feeling fine."

"Good for you," said Chester. "You'll win out. I wish I was sure about
myself." He went no further in explanation, however.

Ship board etiquette does not require formal introductions before
extended conversations may be carried on. The New England school ma'am
and the German professor were in a deep discussion ten minutes after
they had met for the first time. Many on the ship were going especially
"to do Europe," so there were themes for conversation in common.

As it happened, Chester was alone again that afternoon and he met the
minister and his daughter on the promenade deck. They were taking their
exercise moderately, pausing frequently to look at any trifling
diversion. Chester tipped his cap at them as they passed. At the next
meeting in the walk, the minister stopped and greeted the young man.

"I wish to thank you for your act of kindness to my daughter," he said.
"She has told me about it."

"It was nothing, I assure you, sir," replied Chester. "I don't think the
fellow will annoy her again."

"I hope not. On these ocean voyages one is thrown so closely into all
kinds of company. We, of course, must suppose all our fellow-passengers
are respectable people, until we find out otherwise--but let us sit
down. Where are our chairs, Lucy?"

"They're on the other side, I believe, where we left them this morning."