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They were walking self-consciously and almost guiltily near the forward end of the deck-house when they saw Veath approaching far behind. Their speed accelerated, and for half an hour they walked like pedestrians in a racing match, always keeping some distance ahead of poor Veath, who finally, like the sly fox, sat down and waited for them to hurry around and come upon him unexpectedly.
"Come in and sit down. She will be here presently." He staggered as he drew back. "Has has my sister given up all hope of ever seeing me again?" said Ridgeway. Their hands were still clasped. "Miss Vernon feared that you were lost, Hugh," said Veath. A cold perspiration was showing itself on his brow. "She has told me all. How ill and white you look. Sit down here and I'll get you some wine."
Poor Veath knew nothing of all this and continued to "show Miss Ridge a good time." On the second night out of Gibraltar, he and Grace were strolling the deck. He was happy, she in deep despair. Down at the other end of the deck-house, leaning over the rail, smoking viciously, was Hugh, alone, angry, sulky. It was a beautiful night, cool and crisp, calm and soft.
I cannot listen to you. Mr. Veath, there is no possible hope." "The hope to win and the will to win are two different propositions, and it is the latter under which I am enlisted. To me it is worth fighting for to the end of time." "Oh, you must not say these things to me," she cried fiercely, trying to escape from his eyes.
Don't! Let me lie here till you are gone. I can't bear to have you see my face again. "Grace!" he cried blankly. "Oh, if I had been drowned this could have been avoided. Why don't you say something, Henry? I cannot tell him." Veath could only shake his head in response to Ridgeway's look of amazed inquiry. "Is she mad?" groaned the returned lover. "Mad?
To what a pass their elopement had come! Above all things, how could he comfort the unfortunate man? There was no word of encouragement, no word of hope to be given. The deepest pity he had ever felt went out to Henry Veath; the greatest remorse he had ever known stung his soul. Should he tell Veath the truth? Could he do it? "Do you see my position?" asked Veath steadily, after a long silence.
Hugh and Lady Huntingford were hurrying toward them. "What's wrong?" asked Veath, alarmed by the agitation of the two soldiers. "Captain Shadburn estimates that we are two hundred miles out of our course, away to the south. It's impossible to get our bearings without the sun, and the Lord only knows where we're running to," said Hamilton, holding to the door casing.
Evidently his had not been a life of leisure. As he lounged easily upon the edge of the berth, Hugh could not but admire his long, straight figure, the broad shoulders and the pale face with its tense earnestness. "Manila, you know, is an important post these days," said Veath. "There's a lot of work to be done there in the next few years. I'm from Indiana.
Then he flushed painfully, remembering when too late that he had sworn to Hugh that he would not speak to her of the matter. "I beg your pardon," he hurried on; "I promised that is, I should not have asked you that question. I forgot, hang my stupidity." "Mr. Veath, I am not going out to be a missionary. Nothing was ever farther from my mind," she said, rather excitedly.
In a dispute over the cards with your husband I forgot myself for a moment. Pray forgive me." Ridgeway quietly strode away with Grace and Veath. Lady Huntingford directed a look of unutterable contempt at her husband, turned on her heel and left him to slink away as quickly as possible, like a cur that has felt the whip.
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