As the old flagman had truly said, there were not many travelers by the steamboat at this inclement season of the year—only a few country tradesmen, picked up at different points along the shores of the bay, who were taking time by the forelock and going to the Northern cities to purchase their spring goods. All these were total strangers to Gloria and David; and as they lounged or sauntered, talking politics or smoking pipes, to and fro from stem to stern, on the deck, they scarcely bestowed a glance upon the young pair, seated behind the wheel-house, who, indeed, kept themselves aloof from all their fellow-passengers, until the ringing of the tea-bell brought them all down together into the ill-lighted saloon. Here Gloria found herself the only lady at the table, with a dozen or more men, officers and passengers all counted; but as the motion of the steamboat was now very rough, she took it for granted that all the other ladies who might be on board were confined to their berths by sea-sickness. After tea the young couple returned to the deck, but found the weather too blustering for the girl; so they went again to the saloon, but found that the table had been cleared of the tea-service and the men had gathered about it in parties of four to play cards, smoke and drink; so finally they went to the companion-way leading below, and there David Lindsay bid Gloria good-night, for there was no admittance for him in the Ladies’ Cabin. When she reached this sanctuary she found that she was the only woman on board the steamer, with the exception of the stewardess. This latter came to proffer her services to the young lady. She was a wonderfully tall, black and spare specimen of the negro race. A striped gown and a high turban added to her unusual altitude. “’Ebenin, Miss. Well, as yer’s de only lady here, yer kin hab fus’ choice of dese here staterooms on each side de cabin,” she said. “Is there any difference?” inquired the girl with a smile. “Some is double and some is single, and dem in de middle is straight, and next to de stairs is crooked.” “Well, you shall choose for me.” “Den I ’vise you to take a double one in de middle.” “Thanks,” said Gloria. She did not then go into the selected state-room, but she sat down in the rocking-chair and put her feet to the fire in the stove. “Reckon yer’s gwine back to school in de city arter the Christmas holidays?” ventured the stewardess. “No,” replied the young lady. “Den yer’s gwine long your pappy to buy goods maybe?” “No.” “To visit yer ’lations, den?” “No.” “Well, what on de face ob de yeth is yer gwine for?” bluntly inquired the stewardess. “On business,” good-humoredly replied the girl. “Oh!” said the woman. There was silence for a few minutes, and then the woman began to murmur, partly to herself: “Now, I wonder what business can call a young gal to town at this unlawful season ob de wintry wedder in a cold steamboat?”