How could he help the consequences of follies committed in time he had not even spent yet? However, what he had to do now was to prevent Miss Davenport from leaping overboard at any cost. He would even promise to jump over with her, if that would soothe her, and of course he could appoint some time next day—say, after breakfast for the performance.
He ran down the shadowy deck until he overtook a flying female form, whose hand he seized as she crouched against the bulwarks.
"Miss Davenport, if you will only just …" he began, when, without warning, he found himself back upon his own hearth-rug, holding Sophia firmly by the wrist!
He felt confused, as well he might, but he tried to pass it off.
"Did you find Dibbs On Currency, my dear?" he inquired, with a ghastly smile, as he dropped her hand.
"I did not," said Sophia, gravely; "I was otherwise engaged. Peter, what have you been doing?"
"What have I been doing?" he said. "Why, it's not a minute since you went into
