‘Oh, my dear child, I’d consent to anything for your happiness. Only--will he make you happy?’ ‘I think so,’ replied Grace. There was nothing more to be said, then--at least so Mrs Vansittart thought, as she returned, with a deep sigh, to her former occupation of bathing Grace’s forehead with _eau-de-Cologne_. Whilst this little scene was being enacted in the stern cabin, Vernon Blythe was on deck, standing by the taffrail, and looking expectantly towards the companion-ladder. It was his first watch that night from eight to twelve. Mr Coffin had turned in, and the passengers were amusing themselves with music in the saloon, and cards in the house amidships. Suddenly Jack saw a pretty head, all covered with curls, appear at the top of the ladder, and in another moment Alice Leyton stood by his side. They were alone, but she did not hold up her face to be kissed as they drew near each other. She seemed to have been somewhat infected by Vernon’s low spirits the last few days, for she had certainly been less talkative and merry than usual. ‘Well, Jack,’ she said, as they came within hailing distance, ‘I thought it was about time I came and looked after you. They are so dull in the saloon. Almost everybody is reading, and all the gentlemen have deserted us for those horrid cards. And you must feel it stupid up here too. Let us try and enliven each other.’ ‘Do you know,’ replied Jack, ‘that it is my watch, and you are not supposed to speak to the officer on duty, Miss Alice?’ ‘Bother your watch!’ she retorted. ‘As long as I do not interfere with your duty, the captain will not object. Mr Coffin was telling me yesterday that there is no rule about it.’ ‘So you have been trying your hand upon poor old Coffin now, have you? What a dreadful flirt you are. You’d coquet with your own shadow, sooner than with nothing at all.’ ‘Would I?’ cried Alice. ‘Not if it had a petticoat on. That’s all you know about it, Jack. But what’s the matter with _you_. You’ve not been half yourself lately. Mother says she hasn’t heard you laugh since we came aboard.’ ‘Too much to think of,’ replied Jack; ‘I have no time to laugh now.’ ‘Too much to think of, you old humbug!’ laughed Alice. ‘Why, on a night like this, there is no work at all to do. That’s why I have inflicted my company on you. I was afraid you might go to sleep at your post.’ ‘There’s no fear of going to sleep where _you_ are, Alice, and as long as we don’t get a shift of wind, I hope you will stay here, and cheer me on my lonely watch.’ ‘Well, it strikes me you want cheering, Jack. Your face is as long as a hatchet. Is it anything that _I’ve_ done?’ inquired Alice, with a guilty fear that he would answer in the affirmative. But he didn’t. ‘_You!_’ he exclaimed, reddening in the moonlight. ‘Oh, dear, no! What _have_ you been doing? Anything naughty? Because, if that’s the case, you had better make a clean breast of it at once, and receive my absolution before you go to sleep.’