The actor stepped inquiringly into the narrow room and began a warning whisper but Ramsey spoke on to wife and husband by turns: "And in the face of all that here we are--or here I am--about to do the silliest, most heartless thing in all my silly, heartless life. No, I'm not ready." "Tsh-sh!" whispered the husband, with both hands up. "My dear young lady, this isn't you; you've caught this mood of a moment from your brother." It was not his words, however, that startled Ramsey to silence; the audience was again stamping and pounding. Now she resumed: "Oh, I hear! Mrs. Gilmore, the trouble's not that home song nor the spring song nor the love-song; it's that silly thing you-all say I _must_ sing if I get an encore--which I can't believe I'll get!" "My dear, you'll get several. We've arranged that." "Arr'--! Why, I've only that one silly thing!" "The fate of the whole show is in that one silly thing." "Oh, it's not! It's in you two talented, professional, famous people!" "Ah, maybe it ought to be, but it's not. That's the way of the stage, my dear. Your silly thing has plenty of verses. Sing only two at a time." "A sort o' Hayle's twins," laughed the girl. Then despairingly she dropped to the edge of the berth. But Hugh had been pushing in past the players and as he reached her she sprang erect again. "This is entirely my doing," he said to her. "These two good friends mustn't urge you to sing. They're in danger, you know; greater danger than they'll believe." Gilmore broke in: "Now, Mr. Hugh, listen to me." But Ramsey put out a hand. "No, _you_ listen--to him," and Hugh went on: "Should it come to be known by--certain ones----" "Certain twos," said Ramsey, "go on." "It would double, or treble, that danger." "My dear boy--" began the actor again, but his wife restrained him, and Ramsey whispered at him in turn: "Tsh-sh!" Then she prompted Hugh: "And so----?" "So you must sing without any urging but mine." Her lips parted in droll repudiation, but he went on. "And you'll give the encore." "Oh, when did you learn to talk? I--w-i-l-l--n-o-t!" Once more the actor tried to break in, but his wife eagerly whispered: "Let them alone! Let--them--alone!" "Success hangs on it," persisted Hugh, "and success here means success all over the boat. It will mean their" (the Gilmores') "safety; while failure-- Think of it, Miss Ramsey.... Don't you see?" She stared an instant and then with a sign of distress and aversion gasped: "Go away! Go away!" and dropping to the berth cast her face into its pillow. With gentle speed Mrs. Gilmore pressed Hugh aside and took his place. The stamping and pounding, for a moment suspended, broke forth afresh. "Send him away!" cried Ramsey, her voice muffled by the pillow, one eye fitfully glancing from it, and one arm waving backward. "All advice rejected! Send him away! Send them both."