“No, not your father. Although his lordship would haul down his colors mighty quick if once he saw you as I do now. But there are others who would be glad to take a hand at the wheel and help you steer out of all this misery. You ain't accustomed to it and you don't deserve it, and I'm going to put a stop to it if I can.” This last came with still greater emphasis--the first mate was speaking now. “Thank you, Stephen. You and Martha are very much alike. She has the loyalty of an old servant, and you have the loyalty of an old friend. But we must all pay for our mistakes--” she halted, drew in her breath, and added, picking at her dress, “--and our sins. Everybody condemns us but God. He is the only one who forgets, when we are sorry.” “Not so many remember as you may think, your ladyship. Some of 'em have forgotten--forgotten everything--and are standing by ready to catch a line or man a boat.” “Yes, there are always kind people in the world.” “Well, there mayn't be such an awful lot of 'em as you think, but I know one. There's Mr. Felix, for instance, who--” She sprang to her feet, her hands held out as a barrier, and stood trembling, staring wildly at him, all the blood gone from her cheeks. “Stop, Stephen! Not another word. You must not mention that name to me. I cannot and will not permit it. I have listened too long already. I am very grateful for your kindness and for your offers to me, but you must not touch on my private affairs. I am earning my own living, and I shall continue to do so. And now I would like to be alone.” “But, your ladyship, I've got something to tell you which--” Martha stepped between them. “I think, Stephen, you'd better not talk to her ladyship any more. You might come some other night when she's more rested. You see she's had a very bad day and--” Stephen's voice rang out clear. “Not say anything more, when--” Martha dug her fingers into his arm. “Hush!” she whispered hoarsely, her lips close against his hairy cheek. “She'll be on the floor in a dead faint in a minute. Didn't I tell you not to mention his name?” She stepped quickly to the side of her charge, who had walked falteringly toward the window and now stood peering into the darkness through the panes of the dormer. “It's only Stephen's way, child, and you mustn't mind him. He doesn't mean anything. He hasn't seen much of women, living aboard ship half his life. It's only his way of trying to be kind. And you see he's known you from a baby, same as me--and that's why he lets out.” She had folded the pitiful figure in her arms, her hand patting the bent shoulders. “But we'll get on together, my lamb--you and me. And we'll have supper right away--And I must ask you, Stephen, to go, now, because her ladyship is worn out and I'm going to put her to bed.” Carlin picked up his hat and stood fingering the rim, trying to make up his mind whether he should force the truth upon her then or obey orders and wait. The training of long years told.