Although the words were commonplace enough, there was a tremor in his voice which gave a meaning to them that could not be misunderstood. Miss Earle looked at him with serene composure, and yet with a touch of reproachfulness in her glance. “He talks like this to me,” she said to herself, “while he is engaged to another woman.” “Yes,” she answered aloud, with more firmness in her voice than might have seemed necessary, “I will be happy to walk on the deck with you to see the phosphorescence.” He helped to hinder her for a moment in adjusting her wraps, and they went out in the starlit night together. “Now,” he said, “if we are fortunate enough to find the place behind the after-wheel house vacant we can have a splendid view of the phosphorescence.” “Is it so much in demand that the place is generally crowded?” she asked. “I may tell you in confidence,” replied Mr. Morris, “that this particular portion of the boat is always very popular. Soon as the evening shades prevail the place is apt to be pre-empted by couples that are very fond of—” “Phosphorescence,” interjected the young lady. “Yes,” he said, with a smile that she could not see in the darkness, “of phosphorescence.” “I should think,” said she, as they walked towards the stern of the boat, “that in scientific researches of that sort, the more people who were there, the more interesting the discussion would be, and the more chance a person would have to improve his mind on the subject of phosphorescence, or other matters pertaining to the sea.” “Yes,” replied Morris. “A person naturally would think that, and yet, strange as it may appear, if there ever was a time when two is company and three is a crowd, it is when looking at the phosphorescence that follows the wake of an ocean steamer.” “Really?” observed the young lady, archly. “I remember you told me that you had crossed the ocean several times.” The young man laughed joyously at this _repartee_, and his companion joined him with a laugh that was low and musical. “He seems very sure of his ground,” she said to herself. “Well, we shall see.”