‘Doctor, it is very rude to be so personal. You quite confuse me. What was I talking about?’ said the girl. ‘Injustice to your lovely sex,’ replied Mr Fowler. ‘Oh, yes. Why have many of our cleverest women written under an assumed name, and signed their works by a masculine one, except that they knew how difficult it is to convince the world that anything really good can be produced by a woman. And then you deny that men are unjust to us.’ ‘Why, Alice, you astonish me. I had no idea that you could talk so well,’ said Captain Lovell, as she finished her peroration. But if her eloquence had astonished the young officer, his familiarity with her surprised his hearers still more. It was the first time he had called her by her Christian name in public, and Alice coloured scarlet as she heard it. A painful pause ensued, in which Miss Vere came to the rescue. ‘Well, it seems to me,’ she said, ‘that in discussing women’s brains, we have quite forgotten that we met to discuss the private theatricals. Miss Leyton, have you quite decided to play “Julia” to Captain Lovell’s “Faulkner”?’ ‘Yes, quite, I think,’ replied Alice, who was still as red as a peony. ‘Then we must fix on the dresses. I think you told me you had a white dress that--’ ‘There is such a splendid ship in sight, do you know?’ exclaimed Harold Greenwood, suddenly bursting in upon them. ‘She has four masts, and is going to Calcutta. Won’t you come on deck and see her, eh?’ ‘Oh, we must run up and see the ship,’ cried everybody, as they deserted the smoke-room. [Illustration] CHAPTER XIV. SETTLED. The large vessel, which turned out to be the _Carrickfergus_, of Glasgow, bound for Calcutta, did not appear to interest Alice Leyton and Captain Lovell. They gazed at her for a few moments in silence, and then turned away, as if by mutual consent, and walked to the other side of the deck together. ‘Why don’t you stay and watch them pulling up the flags?’ said Alice, as she perceived that the captain had followed her. ‘Because I would far rather be with you. Alice, what is the matter? What have I done to offend you?’ ‘Do I look offended?’ ‘You do not smile as sweetly as usual, and I am miserable. Is it possible you are angry with me?’ ‘Yes, I am--a little. Why did you call me “Alice” before all those people? You know you have no right to do so, and the next thing we shall hear, is that it is reported all over the ship we are engaged.’ ‘Then let us forestall their gossip, and make the report true. Let us be engaged, Alice.’