have left you quite weary," he ventured, addressing her. "There's
only the choice of sleeping, or of hanging over the deck rail and
looking at these hills." He waved a hand toward a window, whence
might be seen the near-by shores.

Josephine St. Auban showed no sign of perturbation as she answered:
"Not so weary as busy. The duties of an amanuensis leave one small
time for recreation." Her face was demureness itself.

[Illustration: Josephine showed no sign of perturbation.]

The situation assumed swift complications. Carlisle caught his
cue, with alertness fairly to be called brilliant. "Yes," said he,
"the young lady is of foreign education and family, and is most
skilful in these respects. I should find it difficult to carry
forward my literary work without her able assistance. It is a boon
which even few public men have shared with myself. You know, I am
in the West in view of certain writings." He virtuously sat erect,
with a fine air, presently pushing back his chair.

Dunwody looked from one to the other in perplexity. He had
expected to find a woman claiming his aid, or rather his
acquaintance under excuse of a plea for aid. He found both these
apparently in league against him, and one of these apparently after
all not what he had thought! His face flushed. Meantime Josephine
St. Auban arose, bowed, and left them.

When the two men found themselves alone, Dunwody, for a time lost
in moody silence, at length broke out into a peal of laughter.
"Well, human nature is human nature, I suppose. I make no comment,