Peter guessed the cause only too easily: the unhappy Miss Davenport had indeed succeeded in carrying out her rash design. She had jumped overboard, and the captain had stopped the engines and lowered a boat in the hope of picking her up before she sank! And he himself--why was he skulking below like this? He had only too much reason to fear that he must have been a witness of the fatal leap; and, instead of plunging overboard to the rescue as a hero ought, had rushed down here ignominiously. Had he been observed? Was his connection with the tragedy suspected? Could he venture up on deck and inform himself? He tried, but his nerve failed him, and he sank into one of the chairs in a state of almost unbearable suspense. Just at this moment, he saw the skirts of a muslin gown appear at the head of the broad companion which led to the dining-saloon. Someone, a girl evidently, was descending. Presently he saw her fully revealed--it was Miss Tyrrell. Perhaps he had never been so glad to see her before. She was a friend, a dear friend. She, at least, would sympathise with him, would understand that it was not his fault if he had been too late to avert a catastrophe. She was coming to him. Her eyes were friendly and pitiful as they sought his. She, at least, did not turn from him! "How pale, how terribly pale you look!" she said. "You must nerve yourself to see her--it cannot be long now!" "Has she been brought on board yet?" he gasped. "Is--is there any hope?" "We shall know very soon. It is possible you may find that all is at an end." "Ah! you think so? But--but no one will say it was _my_ fault, will they? I--I was ready to make any sacrifice--only somehow, when the moment comes, I am apt to lose my presence of mind." "Yes, I know," she said feelingly; "you are not quite yourself yet, but I know you would make the sacrifice if your duty demanded it. But she may have taken advantage of your absence to free herself and you from all obligation, may she not?" This suggestion comforted Peter. "She _must_ have done!" he said. "Yes, of course. I could not be expected to prevent it, if I wasn't there; and I wasn't, when it came to the point. But, Miss Tyrrell, do you think that it is really all over? She--she may come round after all!" "She may--but of course, if it is true that she is engaged to another, she can have no possible claim on _you_." What a sensible right-minded way this girl had of looking at things! thought Peter, not for the first time. "Why, of course she can't!" he cried. "And it _is_ true. She is engaged--to a fellow of the name of Alfred." "You know that as a fact?" she exclaimed. "I know it from her own lips, and I need not say that I should be the last person to wish to--er--upset so desirable an arrangement." "Why--_why_ didn't you tell me all this before?" she inquired. "I--I didn't think it would interest you," he replied. Here, to Peter's utter astonishment, she covered her face with her hands.