intended to sit down here and drink your coffee. All at once you changed
your mind, and that change was coincident with the appearance on deck of
the handsome young lady I speak of. I merely ask why?"

"Now, look here, Miss Earle, even the worst malefactor is not expected
to incriminate himself. I can refuse to answer, can I not?"

"Certainly you may. You may refuse to answer anything, if you like.
It was only because you were boasting about speaking the truth that
I thought I should test your truth-telling qualities. I have been
expecting every moment that you would say to me I was very impertinent,
and that it was no business of mine, which would have been quite true.
There, you see, you had a beautiful chance of speaking the truth which
you let slip entirely unnoticed. But there is the breakfast gong. Now, I
must confess to being very hungry indeed. I think I shall go down into
the saloon."

"Please take my arm, Miss Earle," said the young man.

"Oh, not at all," replied that young lady; "I want something infinitely
more stable. I shall work my way along this brass rod until I can make
a bolt for the door. If you want to make yourself real useful, go and
stand on the stairway, or the companion-way I think you call it, and
if I come through the door with too great force you'll prevent me from
going down the stairs."

"'Who ran to help me when I fell,'" quoted Mr. Morris, as he walked
along ahead of her, having some difficulty in maintaining his
equilibrium.