The young lady looked up at him, and for a moment she thought of telling
him that her name was Miss Earle, but for some reason she did not do so.

"I want you to promise now," he continued, "that to-morrow morning you
will be on deck as usual."

"Has it become a usual thing, then?"

"Well, that's what I am trying to make it," he answered. "Will you
promise?"

"Yes, I promise."

"Very well, then, I look on that as settled. Now, about to-day. What are
you going to do with yourself after breakfast?"

"Oh, the usual thing, I suppose. I shall sit in my steamer chair and
read an interesting book."

"And what is the interesting book for to-day?"

"It is a little volume by Henry James, entitled 'The Siege of London.'"

"Why, I never knew that London had been besieged. When did that happen?"

"Well, I haven't got very far in the book yet, but it seems to have
happened quite recently, within a year or two, I think. It is one of the
latest of Mr. James's short stories. I have not read it yet."