Mrs. Peck was silent a moment. I had spoken jocosely, but she received my pleasantry with a serious face. 'Well, she might let him eat his dinner in peace!' she presently exclaimed.
'Oh, he'll come back!' I said, glancing at his place. The repast continued and when it was finished I screwed my chair round to leave the table. Mrs. Peck performed the same movement and we quitted the saloon together. Outside of it was a kind of vestibule, with several seats, from which you could descend to the lower cabins or mount to the promenade-deck. Mrs. Peck appeared to hesitate as to her course and then solved the problem by going neither way. She dropped upon one of the benches and looked up at me.
'I thought you said he would come back.'
'Young Nettlepoint? I see he didn't. Miss Mavis then has given him half of her dinner.'
'It's very kind of her! She has been engaged for ages.'
'Yes, but that will soon be over.'
'So I suppose—as quick as we land. Every one knows it on Merrimac Avenue. Every one there takes a great interest in it.'
'Ah, of course, a girl like that: she has many friends.'
'I mean even people who don't know her.'
'I see,' I went on: 'she is so handsome that she attracts attention, people enter into her affairs.'
'She used to be pretty, but I can't say I think she's anything remarkable to-day. Anyhow, if she attracts attention she ought to be all the more careful what she does. You had better tell her that.'
'Oh, it's none of my business!' I replied, leaving
