‘But this was absolutely necessary--I was martyred in a good cause,’ resumed Miss Leyton. ‘I wanted to get his leave for us to have private theatricals on board, and the dear old thing has given it without a demur.’ ‘You _have_ worked wonders then. We have always considered the skipper too pious to countenance any such frivolity.’ ‘Well, he wasn’t too pious with me, I can tell you; and he has promised to come and see me act into the bargain.’ ‘So you are coming out as a leading lady, eh, Alice?’ ‘Of course; you didn’t suppose I should take all that trouble for somebody else, did you? Miss Vere says she will help us. I and Captain Lovell, and Miss Vansittart and Mr Harland, will all take a part. And _you_ too. You will play my lover, won’t you, Jack?’ ‘No, Alice, I think not, thank you. You have so many lovers, real and imaginary, that one more or less can make no difference; and private theatricals are not in my line.’ ‘Oh, you disagreeable old thing! It’s most horrid of you to leave me to be made love to by a lot of strange gentlemen. They’ll have to kiss me, remember, if it’s in the piece.’ ‘You won’t let them, unless you like it; I am sure of that,’ replied Jack, swinging himself on to the poop, and proceeding on his way. ‘You’re a wretch!’ called out Alice after him, but he only laughed in return; yet his spirits had suddenly gone down to zero. What had he been thinking of and dreaming of when he encountered her? What a fool he was to forget for a moment that he was bound to Alice Leyton, and could not in honour marry any other woman. Of what folly had he not been guilty? His heart sank under the conviction, but he pulled himself together like a man, and tried hard to stamp down his disappointment. After all, he could be Iris’s friend. She had said so with her own sweet lips, and her faithful friend he was determined to prove, until death came to separate them. [Illustration] [Illustration] CHAPTER IV. ON THE POOP DECK.