The Delta independent., 1896-08-05
CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER III.
Next morning Wentworth worked his
way. with much balancing and holding
on Of stanchions, along the deck, for
the ship rolled fearfully, although
there seemed to be little wind and the
sun was shining brightly, but the per-
son he sought was nowhere visible. He
thought he would go into the smoking
room, but changed his mind at the door,
and turned down the companionwey to
the main saloon. The tables had been
cleared OF the breakfast belongings,
but on one of the small tables white
cloth had been laid, and at this spot
Of purity in the general effect of red
plush sat Miss brewster, who was COM
placently ordering what she wanted
from a steward, who did not seem ut ell
pleased in serving one who had disre-
garded the breakfast hour to the dis
arrangement of all saloon rules. The
chief steward stood by q door and
looked disapprovingly 1t the late guest.
1t was almost time to lay the tables for
lunch, and the young woman was as
calmly ordering her breakfast MS IL
u
table.
She looked up brightly at Wentworth,
and smiled as he approached her.
II suppose" she began, I'm dread
fully late, and the steward looks as il
he would like to scold me. How aw-
fully the ship is rolling. Is there
stormw
'No. She seems to be doing this sort
Of thing for amusement. Wants to
make it interesting for the unfortunate
passengers who are not good sailors. /
suppose. She is doing it, too. There's
scarcely anyone on deck"
"Dear me. thought we were having
dreadful storm. Is It raining?"
mo. It's q beautiful sunshiny day;
without much wind, either, in spite of
all this row."
II suppose you have had your break
fast long agor"
$50 long since that am beginning
to look forward with pleasant antici-
patton to lunch"
'Oh dear! I had no idea I was SO late
as that. Perhaps you had better scold
me. Somebody ought to do II, and the
ste ward seems little afraid"
"You overestimate my courage. am
a little afraid, too"
''TheD you do think deserve itY'
81 didn't say that, nor do / think it.
confess, however. that up to this mo-
ment felt just Q trifie lonely"
"Just q trifie! Well, that IL hattery.
How nicely you English do turn . COM
pliment Just . trine!"
II believe, as . race. we do not ven-
ture much into compliment-giving at
al. We leave that for the polite for
eigner. He would say what tried to
say . great deal better than did, of
course; but he would not mean half SO
much"
"Oh, that's very nice, Mr.. Wentworth.
No foreigner could have put IL nearly
no well. Now what about going on
deck?~
"Anywhere. II you let me accompany
you"
II shall be most delighted to have
you. I won't say merely q trifle de-
lighted"
"Ah! Haven't you forgiven that re-
mark yetT'
There's nothing TO forgive, and il
II quite too delicious to forget. shall
never forget it,"
II believe that you are very cruel at
heart, Miss Brewster"
The young woman gave him a curious
side look, but did not answer. She
gathered the wraps she had taken from
the cabin, and, handing them to him
before he had thought of offering to
take them, they went on deck. He
found there chairs side by side. and ad-
mired the intelligence Of the deck stew
ard, who seemed to understand what
chairs TO place together. Miss Jennie
sank gracefully into her own. and al
lowed him to adjust the wrups around
her.
"There," she said. that's very nicely
done; ~ well ~ the deck steward him.
self could do IL, and I am sure II IN i'm.
possible to pay you . more graceful
compliment than that 30 few men
know how to arrange one comfortably
h . steamer chair"
"You speak - though you had vast
exPeTience in steamer life: and yet you
told me this was your first voyage"