I wanted to reply, "So she said in her advertisement," but I merely nodded. "There is another woman on this boat that I would not exchange for a thousand of her," I said, presently, in a low voice. "Point her out to me," said Miss May. "I would like to know what your ideal is." "Look in your mirror," I responded. "Why do you think it necessary," she asked, frowning, "to pay me that kind of compliment?" "I think it necessary to refrain from doing so, but sometimes I grow forgetful." She saw that I was very sober again. "If you meant what you say, it would not be so wicked," she replied, gently. "You know very well that I mean it." "Mr. Camwell," she said, leaning very close to me, "we are obliged to lie to outsiders, in the contract we have assumed. Let us always tell the truth to each other." "If I told you the truth," I responded, gloomily, "you would not sit where you are. You would find strength to walk down those stairs and back to your room alone." She grew slightly paler, though her cheeks were waxen enough before. "Then do not tell it to me just now," she replied, with an attempt at a laugh. "I would rather remain on deck where the air is purer." When the lunch bell rang I advised Miss May to take her repast where she was, promising to send a steward to her with a bill of fare. It pleased me to learn when I came back that she had made quite a meal and was feeling considerably better. * * * * * The succeeding two days contained nothing of high importance, but there were several little things that deserve to be chronicled. The first time Marjorie came to the table and was introduced by me to the others as "Miss Carney," I fancied that a smile rested lightly on the features of Miss Howes, for which I could not account. Marjorie was seated between Mr. Wesson and me, and I saw with pleasure that they seemed likely to be good friends. It was desirable in the interest of our general plan that she and I should not act as if there was no one else in the world. Stone and his wife were quiet people, who rarely spoke unless first addressed. Edgerly was good-natured but not obtrusive. The most of the talk, therefore, at table, came from Mr. and Miss Howes, Wesson and myself. We got to be at last a rather jolly party. Carrying out my plan, now that Miss May had apparently recovered from her indisposition, I left her alone a good deal, or rather with one or more of the others as her companion on deck. They aroused in her an interest in the trip, for which I was glad. Edgerly probably talked with her the least of all, and she told me he never mentioned having seen her before. Miss Howes was her most constant companion, quite naturally, when it is considered that they roomed in one cabin. But on the third day out, just before dinner time, Miss May came to me with a distressed face that showed unusual perturbation. She was actually trembling and her eyes looked as if she had been weeping.