ship to Derwent and his daughter.

"You must be sure and introduce me," she said, with a sparkle of
her eyes that Frank was too unpresumptuous to understand. "They
say that she is a raving little beauty and that you are the happy
man!"

Frank hurriedly disclaimed the honour.

"Oh, no!" he said. "But she is really very sweet and nice, and I
think we owe a little attention to her father."

"Oh, her FATHER!" said Florence, sarcastically emphasising the
word.

"I hope you don't think there is anything in it," he exclaimed
very anxiously. "I suppose there has been some tittle-tattle--I
can read it in your face--but there's not a word of truth in it,
not a word, I assure you."

"I don't care the one way or other, Frank," she said. "You needn't
explain so hard. What does it matter to me, anyway?" and with that
she turned away to cordially greet the count as he came aboard.

The two women met in the saloon. Florence at once assumed the
great lady, the heiress, the condescending patrician; Cassie
flushed and trembled; and in a buzz of commonplaces the stewards
served tea while the two women covertly took each other's measure.
Florence grew ashamed of her own behavior, and, unbending a
little, tried to put her guests at ease and led Cassie on to talk.