The Spectator., 1915-02-05
CHAPTER Il-Continued.

CfAPl GR ll-Continued.
 He eyed her, mildly surprised. "Oh, he puzzles us all bit, you know. Well educated; somewhere back a gentle man; from the States. Of course l don't know; something shady, proba- ply. They don't tramp about like this otherwise. For all that, he's rather decent sort; no bounder like this rol- ter we left at Mandalay. He never talks about himself I fancy he's lone some again"
 "Lonesome?"
 Its the way, you know. These poor beggars drop aboard for the night, merely to see a white woman again, to hear decent English, to dress and dine like a human being. They disappear the next day, and often we never see them again.
 What do they do?" The question came to her lips mechanically.
 'Paddy-fields. White men are needed to oversee them. And then, there's the railway, and there's the new oil country north of Prone. You'll see the wells tomorrow. Rather fancy this warrington CHdp Detu WOih hiiiS along the new pipe line. They're run ming them down to Rangoon. If he's with us tomorrow, I'll have him put the parrot through it's turns. An amusing little beggar.'
 Why not introduce him to me?"
 Beg pardon?"
 I'll take Il the responsibility. It's whim."
 Well. you American girls are the eighth wonder of the world The purser was distinctly annoyed. And it may be an impertinence on my part, but l never yet saw an American woman who would accept advice or act upon it."
 Thanks. What would you adviser" with dangerous sweetness.
 Not to meet this man. It's irregu- lar. I know nothing about him. If you had father or brother on board. '"
 "Or even husband," laughing.
 There yor are." resignedly. You laugh. You women go everywhere, and half the time unprotected"
 Never quite unprotected. We never venture beyond the call of gentle men,"
 That is true" brightening. You in- sist on meeting this chap?"
 'I do not insist only, I am bored. and he might interest me for ar hour" She added; Besides. he may annoy the others"
 The purser grinned reluctantly. You and the colonel don't get on. Well, I'll introduce this chap at din ner.' If don't. ;.
 T am fully capable of speaking to him without any introduction what ever" She laughed again. Tt will be very kind of you"
 When he had gone she unused over this impulse so alien to her character. An absolute stranger, man with a past. perhaps a fugitive from justice and because he looked like Arthur Ellison. she was seeking his acquaint- ance. Something, then. could break through her reserve and aloofness? She had travelled from San Francisco to Colombo unattended save by an elderly maiden who had risen by grad ual stages fIom nurse to companion, but who could not be made to remem. Der that she was no longer a nurse In all these four months Elsa had not made half a dozen acquaintances, and of these she had not sought ore. Yet, she was asking to meet a stranger who SC only recommendation was a sin l. n rann nhn purser was right It was very irregu- lar
 Parrot X Col" she murmured. She searched among the phantoms moving to and fro lpon the ledge; but the man with the cage was gone. It was really uncanny.
 Elsa Chetwood was twenty five, litheiy built. outwardly reposeful, but dynamic within. Education, environ ment and breeding had somewhat smothered the g.owins fires. She was type of the ancient repression of woman, which finds its exceptions in the Aspasias and Helens and Cleo patras of legend and history. In fea- lures she looked exrctly what she was well-bred and well-born. Beauty she also had, but 1t as the cold beauty of northern winter nights. It compelled admiration rather than invited it. Spiritually. Elsa was asleep. The fire was there. the gift of loving greatly, only it smoldered. without radiating even the knowledge of it's presence. Men loved her. but in awe, as one loves the marbles of Phidias. She knew no restraint. and yet she had passed through her stirless years re- strained. Her independence was in. herent and not acquired. She had laid down certain Jews for herself to fol low; and that these often clashed with xha lou,o of rnpvaptinn wbich ara faf