The Shuttle

n of the year, there were fewer absentees than is usual. Indeed, on the third day the deck chairs were all filled, people who were given to tramping during their voyages had begu

ues of red, blue, or yellow novels made frequent spots of colour upon the promenade. Persons of some initiative went to the length of making tentative observations to thei

pressed even more at the outset with her air of being at home instead of on board ship. Her practically well-chosen corner was an agreeable place to look at. Her chair was built for ease of angle and width, her cushions were of dark rich colours, her travelling rugs we

sented his own resentment, but was obliged to acknowledge its existence in his humour. He himself, especially and peculiarly, had always known the bitterness of poverty, the humiliation of seeing where money could be well used, indeed, ought to be used, and at the same time having ground into him the fact that there was no money to lay one's hand on. He had hated it even as a boy, because in his case, and that of his people, the whole thing was undignified and unbecoming. It was humiliating to him now to bring home to himself the fa

and a fine practicalness in her prompt order to the elderly nurse that the richly-caparisoned donkey should

g up. "She might have been nothing but the nicest possible wa

have singled him out for observation, and she was, in fact, too frequently absorbed in her own reflections to be in the frame of mind to remark her fellow passengers to the extent which was generally customary with her. During her crossings of the Atlantic she usually made mental observation of

d, and one of the first was the perfec

ued? Suppose you find her a comfortab

pare herself even for this. If she found Lady Anstruthers plump and roseate, pleased with herself

ld not excuse one for wishing her to be miserable." She was a creature with a number of passionate ideals which warred frequently with th

find her wretched. What do I want? Only the usual thing-that what ca

with her thought, she suddenly became conscious that she was looking directly into other eyes as darkling as her own. They were those of a man on the wrong side of the barrier. H

commented to herself, "is as a

bin shared with two other men. But the aspect which had presented itself to her brief glance had been not so much roughnes

ranger one finds one's eyes entangled for a second in his or hers, as the case may be. At such times it seems for that instant difficult to

he accident," as it was called when spoken of afterwards, the accident which might so easily

ty, which generally elates people when a voyage is drawing to a close. If one has been dull, one begins to gather one

d to Bettina. "How pleased Lady Anstruthers and Sir Nigel

how I am looking forwar

was not aware that her visit to Stornham Court was to be unannounced. It had not been necessary to explain the matter. The whole affair was simple and decorous enough. Miss Vanderpoel was to bid good-bye to her friends and go at once to her sister, Lad

t will Rosy say when she sees me! What shall I say when I see Rosy

staterooms, but presently became quiet and had evidently gone to bed. Bettina was restless and moved about her room

ked such a delicate, airy little creature, quite like a pretty schoolgirl with tears in her eyes. She was laughing and crying at the same time, and kissing both her hands to us again and again. I was crying passionately myself, though I tried to conceal the fact, and I remember that each

s, a running of feet outside, a tumult of mingled sounds and motion, a dash and rush of surging water, a strange thumping and straining of engines, and a moment later she

d and plunged into wild delirium. Above the sound of the dashing and rocking waves, the straining and roaring of hacking engines and the pandemonium of voices rose from

she gasped, getting up with h

undred incongruous thoughts leaped through her brain. Perhaps they were this moment going down. Now she knew what it was like! This thing she had read of in newspapers! Now she was going down in mid-ocean, she, B

fastened the long coat, clenching her teeth to k

t-what was it? She must at least find out. Everybody was going mad in the staterooms, the stewards were rushing about, trying to quiet people, their own voices shaking and bre

and shrieks swelled below, and half-dressed, ghast

t's happened? Where's the Captain! Ar

She caught sight of a man who could not be a sailor, since he was standing still.

ppened to us

raitly. He was the second-cabi

s run into us in th

h harm i

ng here on the chance of hearing somethin

short, sharp sentences, know

ibly frighten

mped he

owards the black, heaving water. "The plunge-the choking

y when he caught he

help, perhaps. Let us try to quiet the people. As soon as I find out anything I will come to your friends' stateroom. You a

ons. I'm going to the saloon d

g over each other on the steps, and clutching at any garment nearest, to drag themselves up

bstacle, and clutched at the hyster

o one has time to answer questions. The first thing to do is to pu

an authority. She replied with almost fierce de

t if one is not a fool one must

said one young man, touching h

idiotic-the more noise you make the less chance you have. How

cellent shock for the crowd. Men, who had been in danger of losing their heads and becoming as uncontrolled as the women

ng and then another. They were silly with fright, and dashed at, and dropped alternately, life belts, shoes, jewel c

lgirl days returned to her in full force. She

they are," pushing her to the place where they hung. "Marie-d

they wailed in concert. "Oh,

is your

inted-L

ed, and struck her cheek against a chair. She lay on the floor in her nightgown, with blood trick

ve me, my girl." She looked so capable of doing it that the woman was startled and actually offended into a

st into frightened sobs, when Betty heard confusion and exclamations in the adjoining room. Blanche and Marie had cried out, and a man's voic

e was saying, when Betty came fo

to be relied on that there is no immediate da

ou sure?" panted Blanche

hing for you?" he said to Bettina,

o assist Mrs. Worthington into her be

n, and laid her on her berth without dragging her about uncomfortably, or making her feel that her weight was greater than even in

rmured. "And you are quite sure t

"You may feel safe. The damage

still tremulous. "The shock was awful. Our introduction has been

lter. "I am in t

red amiably, for want of inspiration. As he wen

m," he said. "I think, perhaps, you had b

d-cabin passengers," commented Mrs. Worthington feebly. "That was a n