He had trouble from only two people. One was the Scotchman, McEwan, whose
hide seemed impervious to rebuffs, and who would charge into a
conversation with the weight of a battering ram, planting himself
implacably in a chair beside Miss Elliston, and occasionally reducing
even Stefan to silence. The other was Miss Elliston herself. She was
kind, she was friendly, she was boyishly frank. But occasionally she
would withdraw into herself, and sometimes would disappear altogether
into her cabin, to be found again, after long search, telling stories to
some of the children. On such occasions Stefan roamed the decks and
saloons very like a hungry wolf, snapping with intolerable rudeness at
any one who spoke to him. This, however, few troubled to do, for he was
cordially disliked, both for his own sake and because of his success with
Miss Elliston. That success the ship could not doubt. Though she was
invariably polite to every one, she walked and talked only with him or
the children. She was, of course, above the social level of the second-
class; but this the English did not resent, because they understood it,
nor the Americans, because they were unaware of it. On the other hand,
English and Americans alike resented Byrd, whom they could neither place
nor understand. These two became the most conspicuous people in the
cabin, and their every movement was eagerly watched and discussed, though
both remained entirely oblivious to it. Stefan was absorbed in the girl,
that was clear; but how far she might be in him the cabin could not be
sure. She brightened when he appeared. She liked him, smiled at him, and
listened to him. She allowed him to monopolize her. But she never sought
him out, never snubbed McEwan for his intrusions into their tete-a-tetes,
seemed not to be "managing" the affair in any way. Used to more obvious
methods, most of the company were puzzled. They did not understand that
they were watching the romance of a woman who added perfect breeding to
her racial self-control. Mary Elliston would never wear her feelings