Alice flew into the saloon, with her eyes brimful of tears, and the first person she encountered was Captain Lovell, who regarded her with looks of the utmost concern. He was a handsome man, in the ordinary acceptation of the term, of about thirty, the sort of man to catch the fancy of a woman who loved her lover’s face before his spirit, but there was no soul in the expression of his face, and no sentiment in his disposition. Any other girl would probably have done as well for him as Alice Leyton, had he been thrown in her society for several weeks consecutively, but on the other hand Alice would do as well for him as any other woman, and was happily of a temperament that would never arrive at a knowledge of the truth. At present, she thought Robert Lovell delightful. He never corrected her, as Jack too often did. He was never _distrait_ when she chattered to him, or wrapped in his own thoughts. He never gazed dreamily at the stars, or made remarks that were utterly beyond her comprehension. And so she quite imagined she was in love, and so, perhaps, she was. As Captain Lovell saw her tear-stained cheeks, he begged her confidence. ‘What is the matter, Miss Leyton? Has any one dared to annoy you?’ ‘Oh, no! It is nothing. Only--only--Mr Blythe teases me so. He says--’ ‘I can guess it all. You need go no further. He presses you on the subject of your engagement to him.’ ‘Yes. He says he will never release me,’ replied Alice, checking a sob. ‘Alice! we must put an end to this at once. It is worrying you too much. May I speak to your mother, dearest? Have I your leave to say that we love each other, and ask her to consent to our marriage?’ ‘If--if--she won’t tell Jack,’ whispered Alice fearfully. ‘I should be afraid to be on the same ship with him, if he knew.’ ‘My darling! Do you suppose you are not safe with _me_?--that any one would be permitted to hurt you, whilst _I_ am by your side? However, that is a matter for after consideration. May I go now and speak to your mother?’ ‘If you wish it,’ replied Alice, as she ran away to the shelter of her own cabin. The afternoon was far advanced, and the wind had freshened into a loud, continuous blast. In the saloon, the passengers of the _Pandora_, now quite accustomed to her varied pranks, were seated at the long table, amusing themselves according to their several tastes and proclivities. Some were playing at cards, chess, or dominoes; others were reading, or trying to write letters; whilst a few of the younger ones were gathered round the piano to hear Miss Vere and Miss Vansittart sing.