'Won't it? Then let me tell you that, if I choose to hamper myself with that woman, or with a whole harem of women, and am not deterred by any consideration for myself, I certainly shall not be deterred by any consideration for you. Do you understand me?' 'That is not being a true partner,' said Shand. 'I'm quite sure of this,--that I'm likely to be as true as you are. I'm not aware that I have entered into any terms with you by which I have bound myself to any special mode of living. I have left England, as I fancy you have done also, because I desired more conventional freedom than one can find among the folk at home. And now, on the first outset, I am to be cautioned and threatened by you because I have made acquaintance with a young woman. Of all the moral pastors and masters that one might come across in the world, you, Dick Shand, appear to me to be the most absurd. But you are so far right as this, that if my conduct is shocking to you, you had better leave me to my wickedness.' 'You are always so d---- upsetting,' said Dick, 'that no one can speak to you.' Then Dick turned away, and there was nothing more said about Mrs. Smith on that occasion. The next to try her hand was Mrs. Callander. By this time the passengers had become familiar with the ship, and knew what they might and what they might not do. The second-class passengers were not often found intruding across the bar, but the first-class frequently made visits to their friends amidships. In this way Mrs. Callander had become acquainted with our two gold-seekers, and often found herself in conversation with one or the other. Even Miss Green, as has been stated before, would come and gaze upon the waves from the inferior part of the deck. 'What a very nice voyage we are having, Mr. Caldigate,' Mrs. Callander said one afternoon. 'Yes, indeed. It is getting a little cold now, but we shall enjoy that after all the heat.' 'Quite so; only I suppose it will be very cold when we get quite south. You still find yourself tolerably comfortable.' 'I shall be glad to have it over,' said Caldigate, who had in truth become disgusted with Dick's snoring. 'I daresay,--I am sure we shall. My young people are getting very tired of it. Children, when they are accustomed to every comfort on shore, of course feel it grievously. I suppose you are rather crowded?' 'Of course we are crowded. One can't have a twenty-foot square room on board ship.' 'No, indeed. But then you are with your friend, and that is much pleasanter than a stranger.' 'That would depend on whether the stranger snored, Mrs. Callander.' 'Don't talk of snoring, Mr. Caldigate. If you only heard Mr. Callander! But, as I was saying, you must have some very queer characters down there.' She had not been saying anything of the kind, but she found a difficulty in introducing her subject. 'Take them altogether, they are a very decent, pleasant, well-mannered set of people, and all of them in earnest about their future lives.'