“I didn’t learn, it is a gift--improved by cultivation, of course. You will never have it, old man,” Cyril dropped into Nadia’s chair as he spoke, and Caerleon leaned against the bulwark opposite him; “but if I may venture on one small bit of advice, do make an effort to understand the woman you want to marry.” “I’ve done that until my brain is softening. If she wasn’t so utterly truthful and transparent, so that one knows she means everything she says----” “Oh, you ridiculous idiot!” cried Cyril. “Then why do you stay to be slanged?” “Because I hope all the time that she doesn’t mean it.” “There you are! I tell you, Caerleon, that unfortunate girl is pretty nearly desperate. Do you think she talks to you in this way out of pure cussedness, or for fun? She has raged at you for a fortnight, and you laugh at her the whole time.” “But if she has anything against me, why in the world doesn’t she tell me so plainly, and let us have it out once for all?” “Your reasoning would be most cogent if you were only speaking of a man, but lovely woman has her own ways of doing things. And when you come to think of it, you would be rather startled if the lady in the present case marched up to you some morning and informed you that you had offended her grievously, giving details, of course, and added that all intimate relations between you would be suspended until you had purged your contempt. That is the actual state of things, of course, but Miss O’Malachy is not going to tell you so. She has let you see it pretty plainly, and I’m not surprised that she is in despair over your denseness. The most maddening thing you can do to a woman is to ignore her moods, and when she is in love with you----! I tell you it wouldn’t astonish me in the least if she left the ship at the next port we come to, and tried to lose herself. Another woman would throw herself overboard, but she is not that sort. The Princess’s teaching does not produce suicides.” Caerleon’s face was very pale. “For heaven’s sake, Cyril, stop talking in that way, and tell me what you think I ought to do. It’s no use trying to appeal to her feelings, for I’ve done it, and she simply scathed me.” “Listen,” said Cyril, sitting up in order to give greater effect to his words. “You must lay aside that contented, don’t-care manner of yours. It maddens her. I know you do care, and with some women your manner would answer admirably, but she can’t see through it. Look here; I know you will naturally feel shy of taking my advice after that business at Bellaviste, but this is a straight tip----” Caerleon started. “I was not thinking of that,” he said.