“Yes; but he might have had a little pity for me,” said Fitz, complacently, for he had an artless habit of exhibiting to the public gaze any sentiments, such as most people prefer to keep concealed in their own bosoms, that he considered did him credit. “Every one on board must know by this time that I am awfully gone on you.” “Mr Anstruther!” “Oh, I mean, of course, that I have admired you awfully ever since I first knew you. A fellow expects a little consideration to be shown him when he is in l--I mean--don’t you know?” “How long have you known me, by the bye?” inquired Georgia. “Oh, all this voyage. It’s been abominably long, don’t you think? But I don’t mean that, you know; it’s been jolly.” “Yes; it is really a long time,” pursued Georgia, meditatively. “It is all but a fortnight, isn’t it?” “A fortnight is as long as a year sometimes,” said Fitz. “I mean, as good,” he added, hurriedly. “Yes; only a fortnight ago you were saying all this to Miss Hervey,” was the unexpected response. “Oh, I say now, Miss Keeling, that’s a bit hard on a man,” cried Fitz, much wounded. “A _man_?” said Georgia, inquiringly; and the youth writhed. “Of course I was awfully gone on Miss Hervey before we started,” he said, sulkily; “but it was only because she was so pretty, and she doesn’t care for me a scrap. She told me so lots of times.” “Is that intended as an excuse for the way in which you have been behaving lately?” asked Georgia; “because I don’t quite see the connection. Allow me to tell you, Mr Anstruther, that you have been doing your best to make both yourself and me supremely ridiculous. I can’t interfere with you if your ambition is to make every one laugh at you, though I may regret it for you own sake; but I object very strongly to your trying to render me absurd.” “Mayn’t a--a fellow change his mind?” Fitz wished to know, in an injured tone. “If I am in love I’m not ashamed of it.” “I hoped that your own good feeling would have led you to see by this time how foolish you have been,” said Georgia, coldly. “I could have freed myself in a moment from the annoyance you have caused me by a word to Sir Dugald”--Fitz’s face fell suddenly--“but I was sorry to lower his opinion of you at the very beginning of your work with him. Your sister is a great friend of mine, and I hoped you might be sufficiently like her not to resent advice which was offered for your good.” “I’m awfully obliged to you for not complaining to Sir Dugald about me,” returned the culprit, with some reluctance. “I didn’t mean to behave like a cad to you, Miss Keeling, nor to make you look ridiculous. I’ll try not to bother you any more, if you really don’t like it. Only mayn’t I speak to you sometimes? It will be rather dull if I am not to say a word all the way to Kubbet-ul-Haj.” “I am quite serious,” said Georgia, rather sharply.