“Why, a disingenuous answer. You _know_ you appeared agitated. You know you _were_ agitated. You know you had a camp-stool, and that you intended to sit down here and drink your coffee. All at once you changed your mind, and that change was coincident with the appearance on deck of the handsome young lady I speak of. I merely ask why?” “Now, look here, Miss Earle, even the worst malefactor is not expected to incriminate himself. I can refuse to answer, can I not?” “Certainly you may. You may refuse to answer anything, if you like. It was only because you were boasting about speaking the truth that I thought I should test your truth-telling qualities. I have been expecting every moment that you would say to me I was very impertinent, and that it was no business of mine, which would have been quite true. There, you see, you had a beautiful chance of speaking the truth which you let slip entirely unnoticed. But there is the breakfast gong. Now, I must confess to being very hungry indeed. I think I shall go down into the saloon.” “Please take my arm, Miss Earle,” said the young man. “Oh, not at all,” replied that young lady; “I want something infinitely more stable. I shall work my way along this brass rod until I can make a bolt for the door. If you want to make yourself real useful, go and stand on the stairway, or the companion-way I think you call it, and if I come through the door with too great force you’ll prevent me from going down the stairs.” “‘Who ran to help me when I fell,’” quoted Mr. Morris, as he walked along ahead of her, having some difficulty in maintaining his equilibrium. “I wouldn’t mind the falling,” replied the young lady, “if you only would some pretty story tell; but you are very prosaic, Mr. Morris. Do you ever read anything at all?” “I never read when I have somebody more interesting than a book to talk to.” “Oh, thank you. Now, if you will get into position on the stairway, I shall make my attempts at getting to the door.” “I feel like a base-ball catcher,” said Morris, taking up a position somewhat similar to that of the useful man behind the bat. Miss Earle, however, waited until the ship was on an even keel, then walked to the top of the companion-way, and, deftly catching up the train of her dress with as much composure as if she were in a ballroom, stepped lightly down the stairway. Looking smilingly over her shoulder at the astonished baseball catcher, she said— “I wish you would not stand in that ridiculous attitude, but come and accompany me to the breakfast table. As I told you, I am very hungry.” The steamer gave a lurch that nearly precipitated Morris down the stairway, and the next moment he was by her side. “Are you fond of base-ball?” she said to him. “You should see me in the park when our side makes a home run. Do you like the game?” “I never saw a game in my life.” “What! you an American girl, and never saw a game of base-ball? Why, I am astonished.”