The Spectator., 1915-03-05
CHAPTER Vil-Continued.

CHAPTER Vli-Continued.
 That there was real danger in her interest in Warrington did not occur to her. The fact that she was now will ing to marry Arthur, without analyz- ing the causes that had brought her to this decision, should have warned her that she was dimly afraid of the stranger Her glance fell upon the mandaT-in's ring. She twirled it round undecidedly. Should she wear it or put it away? The question remained suspended. She saw Craig coming aboard; and she hid her face behind her magazine. Upon second thought she let the magazine fall She was quite confident that that chapter was closed. Craig might be a scoundrel, but he was no fool
 A sharp blast from the tenders whistle drew her attention to the gangplank. The last man to come aboard was Warrington. He immedi- .Htely sought James; and they stood together chatting until the tender drew up alongside the steamer of the Brit ish-india line. The two men shook hands finally, Warrington added a friendly tap on the Eurasian's shoul- der No one would have suspected that the white man and his dark com- panion had been "shipmates," in good times and in bad. for nearly decade. Elsa. watching them from her secure nook. admired the lack of effusiveness. The dignity of the parting told her of the depth of feeling.
 An hour later they were heading for the delta.
 Elsa amused herself by casting bits of bread to the gulls Always they caught 1t on the wing, no matter in what direction she threw it. Some times one would wing up to her very hand for charity, it's coral feet stretched out to meet the quick back play of the wings, its cry shallow and plaintive and world-lonely.
 Suddenly she became aware of a presence at her side.
 A voice said: Tt was not quite fair of you
 What wasn't % without turning her head. She brushed her hands free of the crumbs.
 You should have let me know that you were going to sail on this boat"
 You would have run away. then"
 Why" startled at her insight.
 '.Because you are little afraid of me" She faced him, without smile either on her lips oor in her eyes. Aren't you?"
 .'Yes am afraid of all things do not quite understand"
 There is not the least need in the world. Mir. Warrington, I am quite harmless. My claws have been clipped l am engaged to. be etimarried. and am going home to decide the day"
 He's a lucky man." He was aston ished at his calm. for the blow went deep.
 Lucky? That is in the future. What a lonely thing a gullis!"
 What a lonely thing lonely man is!" he added Poor fool! To have dreamed so fair a dream for a single moment! He tried to believe that he was glad that she had told him about the other man. The least this infor- nation could do would be to give him better control of himself. He had not been out in the open long enough en- tirely to master his neelings
 Men ought not to be lonely" she said There's the excitement of work, of mingling with crowds, of 90 ing IHeB and where one pleases. Woman's lot is wondering and wait ing. at home When I marry I sup pose that shall learn the truth of that
 Perhaps it was because he had been away from them so long and had lost track of the moods of the feminine mind; tnit surely it could not be pos sibAe that there was real happiness in this young woman's heart. It's ,evi- denee was lacking in her voice, in her face, in her gestures. He thought M over with sigh. He felt sorry for the girl. sorry for the man; for it was not I possible that girl like this one would SO through life without experiencing that flash of insanity that is called the grand passion.
 He loved her. He could lean against | the rail. his shoulder lightly touching l hers, and calmly say to himself that l he loved her. He could calmly per init her to pass out of his life as a | cloud passes down the sea-rim. He | hadn't enough, but this evil must be. fall him. Love! He spread out his hands unconsciously.
 What does that meanf" she asked. amiling now. An iflvocatione- |