His companion did not disturb him. The last ray of summer daylight had
died out, and the pale light of the crescent moon only remained.

Presently George Talboys flung away his cigar, and turning to the
governess, cried abruptly, "Miss Morley, if, when I get to England, I
hear that anything has happened to my wife, I shall fall down dead."

"My dear Mr. Talboys, why do you think of these things? God is very good
to us; He will not afflict us beyond our power of endurance. I see all
things, perhaps, in a melancholy light; for the long monotony of my life
has given me too much time to think over my troubles."

"And my life has been all action, privation, toil, alternate hope and
despair; I have had no time to think upon the chances of anything
happening to my darling. What a blind, reckless fool I have been! Three
years and a half and not one line--one word from her, or from any mortal
creature who knows her. Heaven above! what may not have happened?"

In the agitation of his mind he began to walk rapidly up and down the
lonely deck, the governess following, and trying to soothe him.

"I swear to you, Miss Morley," he said, "that till you spoke to me
to-night, I never felt one shadow of fear, and now I have that sick,
sinking dread at my heart which you talked of an hour ago. Let me alone,
please, to get over it my own way."

She drew silently away from him, and seated herself by the side of the
vessel, looking over into the water.

George Talboys walked backward and forward for some time, with his head