Had Mrs Mannering seen, or had she not? Katrine could not decide. She was thankful at least that she was treated to no remarks, but could hurry into bed and lie quietly in the darkness, thinking over the situation. One thing was certain--the incident had at a stride carried Vernon Keith and herself beyond the stage of conventional acquaintance. It seemed impossible that they could meet again without reference to that short, pregnant meeting. What would be said? Would he be shamed, resentful, defiant? Katrine could not guess; hardly knew for which mood to wish. Curiously enough the success of her appeal had roused a nervous mistrust, so that she regretted her own audacity, and wished helplessly that she had waited for Captain Bedford's help. "Will he think it was bold of me?" she questioned of her own heart. "Will they tell him in the smoke-room that I walked about with a man to whom no other girl will speak? Will he think I am bold and fast, and tell _Jim_?" Quick as a dart came the answering assurance. "_Jim will understand_!" and at the comfort of it she laughed softly aloud. A sleepy murmur from the opposite bunk reminded her of the existence of her room-mate. She blushed and stammered in the dark: "I--I beg your pardon. What did you say?" "_Bless you_!" repeated the voice distinctly. "But don't do it again.-- He'll keep, my dear--he'll keep!" The next morning, to Katrine's relief, there was no sign of Vernon Keith at breakfast. She drew her chair into a quiet corner and sat with her back to the passing stream, affecting to be engrossed in her book, but shortly before noon a shadow loomed, and with a fluttering of heart she divined that the dreaded encounter was at hand. He placed his chair by her side, and fixed her with haggard eyes, but he spoke no word, not even the conventional greeting; it was left to her to open the conversation. "Oh, Mr Keith--good-morning! I was reading.--Isn't it a nice day?" "Is it?" he queried listlessly. "I was not thinking of to-day. I was thinking of last night." His eyes pierced her through, he bent nearer, speaking with a horrible deliberation. "Are--you--accustomed--to-- drunken--men?" Katrine cowered; repulsed and frightened. "Never--never!--I have never so much as spoken to one--be--"