‘You’re quite sure you would give me absolution?’ she said saucily. ‘I think so. Why not? It’s better than quarrelling with you, and it saves a lot of trouble. Only I must hear what you have been guilty of, before I can decide the amount of absolution you require, and whether it can be conveyed by one kiss or half-a-dozen.’ ‘Jack,’ said Alice, pouting, ‘I don’t believe you love me one bit!’ She was becoming fast aware that she didn’t care for him, and yet she would not willingly have given him up to any other woman. Dogs in the manger are nowhere in comparison with the fair sex. They may be utterly sick of a man’s attentions, and wish never to receive them again, but they would endure them to the extent of martyrdom sooner than see them transferred to a rival. Their vanity cannot brook the idea of being forgotten. ‘What can I do or say to _make_ you believe it?’ returned Jack. ‘I suppose you say that because I have so little time to devote to you now. But you know that I would lie all day long at your feet, if I had not these confounded watches to keep.’ ‘But you never say anything nice when we _do_ meet,’ continued Alice. ‘I didn’t know you cared for my nice things. You have so many people to say them to you. Captain Lovell, for instance! Isn’t he whispering soft nothings to you all day long?’ Alice blushed furiously. ‘Jack! you’re not jealous--are you?’ she whispered. He burst out laughing. ‘_Jealous!_ my dear child! Most _decidedly_ not! I’m only too delighted to see my little girl so well appreciated. What sort of a fellow is Lovell? Has he got anything in him? He looks rather an ass to me.’ ‘Not at all,’ cried Alice indignantly; ‘he is very clever, and most amusing. I never met any one who made me laugh so much. And he has travelled all over the world, and has a wonderful memory. It is a shame of you to call him an ass.’ ‘I only said he _looked_ like one! It is all right if he isn’t,’ remarked Jack coolly. ‘You are jealous of him; that’s what it is,’ said Alice, in a temper. Jack walked straight up to her, and took her hand. ‘My dear little woman! you are perfectly wrong. I am jealous of no man. You have promised to be my wife, and I rest securely on that promise. Were I to see you flirting with the whole world, I should not suspect you of betraying me. Whilst I am engaged to you, I should consider it most dishonourable to make love to another girl. Why should I suspect you of possessing a lower nature than my own? So set your mind at rest upon that score, Alice. I _trust_ you, my dear, as I hope you trust me.’ ‘Good-night,’ said Alice, in a stifled voice, as she turned away. ‘Mother will be expecting me to join her in the cabin.’ ‘Good-night,’ echoed her lover cheerfully. Neither of them kissed the other as they parted, though when this ceremony had first been omitted between them, it would have puzzled them to say--only they seemed somehow to have involuntarily dropped it.