how to behave--well, that's exactly what we shall see."

"You will, but not I! I wash my hands of her."

"Don't say that--don't say that."

Mrs. Nettlepoint looked at me a moment. "Why do you speak so solemnly?"

In return I considered her. "I'll tell you before we land. And have you
seen much of your son?"

"Oh yes, he has come in several times. He seems very much pleased. He
has got a cabin to himself."

"That's great luck," I said, "but I've an idea he's always in luck. I
was sure I should have to offer him the second berth in my room."

"And you wouldn't have enjoyed that, because you don't like him," she
took upon herself to say.

"What put that into your head?"

"It isn't in my head--it's in my heart, my _coeur de mere_. We guess
those things. You think he's selfish. I could see it last night."

"Dear lady," I contrived promptly enough to reply, "I've no general ideas
about him at all. He's just one of the phenomena I am going to observe.
He seems to me a very fine young man. However," I added, "since you've
mentioned last night I'll admit that I thought he rather tantalised you.
He played with your suspense."