"Our what?" asked the young lady, looking up at him with open eyes.

"Is it possible," he said, "that you have crossed the ocean and never
engaged in the chutney fight? I always have it on this line."

"I am sorry to appear so ignorant," said Miss Earle, "but I have to
confess I do not know what chutney is."

"I am glad of that," returned the young man. "It delights me to find in
your nature certain desert spots--certain irreclaimable lands, I might
say--of ignorance."

"I do not see why a person should rejoice in the misfortunes of another
person," replied the young lady.

"Oh, don't you? Why, it is the most natural thing in the world. There
is nothing that we so thoroughly dislike as a person, either lady or
gentleman, who is perfect. I suspect you rather have the advantage of me
in the reading of books, but I certainly have the advantage of you on
chutney, and I intend to make the most of it."

"I am sure I shall be very glad to be enlightened, and to confess my
ignorance whenever it is necessary, and that, I fear, will be rather
often. So, if our acquaintance continues until the end of the voyage,
you will be in a state of perpetual delight."

"Well, that's encouraging. You will be pleased to learn that chutney is
a sauce, an Indian sauce, and on this line somehow or other they never
have more than one or two bottles. I do not know whether it is very
expensive. I presume it is. Perhaps it is because there is very little