‘_Too much_,’ repeated Farrell. ‘I should think it _was_ too much. It is sacrilege to think of such a thing. Miss Douglas, you must not go back to him. He is not worthy of a second thought from you. By your own confession, he has made you miserable--else why are you following him under an assumed name, instead of openly proclaiming yourself his wife?’ ‘I was afraid,’ faltered Iris. ‘He deserted me,--left me to starve and--’ ‘And took to courting Miss Vansittart instead. Cannot you see the little game he is playing now, Miss Douglas. He wants to add bigamy to his other misdemeanours. He has an idea of marrying his employer’s daughter, and getting a handsome dowry with her, I suppose. I know he has given himself out as an unmarried man, and all the ship imagines they are an engaged couple.’ ‘Maggie has told me the same,’ cried Iris excitedly, ‘but I cannot believe it. How could he be so foolish, when he knows that I live, and any mail might take out a letter to reveal the truth. Besides, notwithstanding all his unkindness to me, I _did_ think sometimes that he loved me a little.’ ‘There speaks your woman’s vanity, Miss Douglas, and not your common sense. How can any man _love_ the woman whom he makes miserable. But if you doubt his motives respecting Miss Vansittart, watch them, and judge for yourself.’ ‘How can I watch them from this cabin. I only see them sometimes in the evenings walking together on the poop.’ ‘They have theatricals to-night, you know, in the little theatre that the sailors rigged up in the after-part of the vessel. Go and see them, and you will probably have a domestic drama enacted for your private benefit. Both Mr Harland and Miss Vansittart have refused to act. They prefer sitting together in the semi-darkness in front. Take my advice, and when you come back to this cabin, you will tell me your mind is made up.’ ‘But if I should be seen? I have been so very careful since coming on board, to keep out of his way.’ ‘But _why_? What is your object in concealing yourself, now that we are out at sea?’ ‘I don’t quite know,’ faltered Iris; ‘but I am so afraid of him. He is so violent, you know, when he is disturbed.’ ‘And will he be less so on land? Or do you think you will have more protection from him there than here? Miss Douglas, excuse me for saying I think you are quite wrong. As you _have_ followed him (which seems to have been a great mistake to me), the sooner you discover yourself the better. Every day you keep the truth from him you increase the chance of Miss Vansittart being made as unhappy as yourself. I don’t know what sort of a girl she is, but since _you_ could be deceived by his false tongue into believing him to be good and true, I suppose she may be the same.’