John Caldigate

ly by the ship's inhabitants generally. The inhabitants of the ship were inimical to Mrs. Smith. She was a woman who had no friends; and the very female who had first appeared as a friend was now the

ad already been a little cold to the doctor in consequence of a pleasant half-hour spent by her in Caldigate's company, as they looked over the side of the vessel at the flying-fish. Mrs. Callander had been with them, and everything had been quite proper. But what a pity it was that he should devote so much of his time to that woman! 'Fancy his condition if he should be induced to marry her!' said Miss Green, holding up her hands in horror. The ide

soft and well chosen,- that she could sit apart and read,- and that she could trample upon Mrs. Crompton in her scorn,- then, for a while, there were some who made little efforts to get into her good graces. She might even have made an ally of good-natured Mrs. Bones, the wife of the butcher who was going out w

re all the people in regard to her wicked determination to be intimate with Caldigate, the more interesting she became. Dick, who was himself the very imp of imprudence,- who had never been deterred from doing anything he fancied by any glimmer of control,- would have been delighted to be the hero of all the little stories that were being told. But as that

aking an ass of yourself a

resay

el

have made asses of themselves about women

onsense,

y li

to talk to yo

ense in return. The idea of your preaching! Here I am with nothing specia

end of it?' Dick Shan

man as you should talk about the end of anything.

now, and it won't do for us t

r with a whole harem of women, and am not deterred by any consideration for myself, I

ing a true part

also, because I desired more conventional freedom than one can find among the folk at home. And now, on the first outset, I am to be cautioned and threatened by you because I have made acquaintance with a young woman. Of all the mor

one can speak to you.' Then Dick turned away, and there

rs were not often found intruding across the bar, but the first-class frequently made visits to their friends amidships. In this way Mrs. Callander had become acquainted with our two gol

e having, Mr. Caldigate,' Mrs.

little cold now, but we shall

ry cold when we get quite south. You st

said Caldigate, who had in truth be

red of it. Children, when they are accustomed to every comfort on sh

One can't have a twenty-foo

ith your friend, and that is mu

whether the stranger s

was saying, you must have some very queer characters down there.' She had not been

pleasant, well-mannered set of people, and al

hrink from it. So she told herself at that moment. And yet she was very much afraid of him as she saw the squareness of his forehead, and the set of his mouth. A

at

l know that you

res a definition so much as that. I am going to work hard to ear

me danger in such societ

y escape any

You probably have had a long

e that;- ba

of which you ought to be prou

word I do

was a gleam of anger in his eyes. She wished herself back again in her own part of the ship; but she had boasted to Miss Green that she was not t

not say anything t

not dare to go on. He would not help her in the least, but stood there looking at her, with something of a smile s

ak to me about another

what I was goi

ate against that word lady,

f thing; and as to myself, I really shouldn't care what you said. Any good advice would be taken most gratefully,- i

't be yo

class passenger,- in which matter she is exactly my equal. If you come to that, don't you t

you

and so you had better give it up.' Whereupon she did give it up and

ot be true,- that she had gone on the stage in opposition to her friends,- that she had married an actor, who had treated her with great cruelty,- and that he had died of drink. And with each of these stories there had been an accompaniment of mystery. She had not told him her maiden name, nor what had been the condition

saying, that in her poverty she had wished to save everything that could be saved, and that she had only intended to make herself l

ssful he replied, 'as you are certainly mo

n my fault?

erved till she had been either provoked or invited to come forth; and, in fact, that her conduct had been

describable manner, and was no longer ashamed of showing her shoes as she sat about upon the deck. There could be no doubt, as she was seen now, that she was the most attractive female on board the ship; but it may be doubted whether the anger of the Mrs.

r. Caldigate was not more peculiar than that of Miss Green and the doctor. Only it pleased certain people to think that Miss Green might be fond of the doctor if she chose, and that Mrs. Smith had no right to be fond of any man. There was a stubbornness about both the sinners which

at this unfortunate young man should go on shore merely to become the prey of such a woman as that. So Captain Munday, who at heart was not afraid of his passenger,- but who persisted in saying that no good could be done, and who had, as may be remembered, already

all a scrape,

position and your prospects were to find himself engag

bout my position and pr

ou are a

ou know less a

but I will tell

lk to me about my private affairs,- or about hers. You say you know nothing. Is it manly to repeat what one hears about a poor forlorn woman?' Then the Captain retreated without another word, owning to himself that he was beaten. I

s and was, within his own mind, conscious of his lack of all purpose, and very conscious of his folly. And though he could repel Mrs. Callander and the Captain,- as he had always repelled those who had attempted to control him,- still he knew that they

which might have been otherwise. Nor did she seem to attempt to lead him on to further and more definite proposals. And she never spoke of any joint action between them when on shore, though she gave herself up to his socie