按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the qualifications which must accompany Love on a cruise； when Love
embarks in the character of a contraband commodity not duly entered on
the papers of the ship。
Having established a Code of Signals which enabled them to
communicate privately； while the eyes and ears of others were wide open
on every side of them； Natalie and Launce were next confronted by the
more serious difficulty of finding a means of meeting together at stolen
interviews on board the yacht。 Possessing none of those precious moral
qualifications already enumerated as the qualifications of an accomplished
lover at sea； Launce had proved unequal to grapple with the obstacles in
his way。 Left to her own inventive resources； Natalie had first suggested
the young surgeon's medical studies as Launce's unanswerable excuse for
shutting himself up at intervals in the lower regions； and had then hit on
the happy idea of tearing her trimmings； and condemning herself to repair
her own carelessness； as the all…sufficient reason for similar acts of self…
17
… Page 18…
Miss or Mrs。？
seclusion on her side。 In this way the lovers contrived； while the innocent
ruling authorities were on deck； to meet privately below them； on the
neutral ground of the main cabin； and there； by previous arrangement at
the breakfast…table； they were about to meet privately now。
Natalie's door was； as usual on these occasions； the first that opened；
for this sound reason； that Natalie's quickness was the quickness to be
depended on in case of accident。
She looked up at the sky…light。 There were the legs of the two
gentlemen and the skirts of her aunt visible （and stationary） on the lee side
of the deck。 She advanced a few steps and listened。 There was a pause in
the murmur of the voices above。 She looked up again。 One pair of legs
（not her father's） had disappeared。 Without an instant's hesitation； Natalie
darted back to her own door； just in time to escape Richard Turlington
descending the cabin stairs。 All he did was to go to one of the drawers
under the main…cabin book…case and to take out a map； ascending again
immediately to the deck。 Natalie's guilty conscience rushed instantly；
nevertheless； to the conclusion that Richard suspected her。 When she
showed herself for the second time； instead of venturing into the cabin； she
called across it in a whisper；
〃Launce！〃
Launce appeared at his door。 He was peremptorily checked before he
could cross the threshold。
〃Don't stir a step！ Richard has been down in the cabin！ Richard
suspects us！〃
〃Nonsense！ Come out。〃
〃Nothing will induce me； unless you can find some other place than
the cabin。〃
Some other place？ How easy to find it on land！ How apparently
impossible at sea！ There was the forecastle （full of men） at one end of the
vessel。 There was the sail room （full of sails） at the other。 There was the
ladies' cabin （used as the ladies' dressing…room； inaccessible； in that
capacity； to every male human being on board）。 Was there any disposable
inclosed space to be found amidships？ On one side there were the sleeping
18
… Page 19…
Miss or Mrs。？
berths of the sailing…master and his mate （impossible to borrow _them_）。
On the other side was the steward's store…room。 Launce considered for a
moment。 The steward's store…room was just the thing！
〃Where are you going？〃 asked Natalie； as her lover made straight for a
closed door at the lower extremity of the main cabin。
〃To speak to the steward； darling。 Wait one moment； and you will see
me again。〃
Launce opened the store…room door； and discovered； not the steward；
but his wife； who occupied the situation of stewardess on board the vessel。
The accident was； in this case； a lucky one。 Having stolen several kisses at
sea； and having b een discovered （in every case） either by the steward or
his wife； Launce felt no difficulty in prefacing his request to be allowed
the use of the room by the plainest allusion to his relations with Natalie。
He could count on the silence of the sympathizing authorities in this
region of the vessel； having wisely secured them as accomplices by the
usual persuasion of the pecuniary sort。 Of the two； however； the
stewardess； as a woman； was the more likely to lend a ready ear to
Launce's entreaties in his present emergency。 After a faint show of
resistance； she consented； not only to leave the room； but to keep her
husband out of it； on the understanding that it was not to be occupied for
more than ten minutes。 Launce made the signal to Natalie at one door；
while the stewardess went out by the other。 In a moment more the lovers
were united in a private room。 Is it necessary to say in what language the
proceedings were opened？ Surely not！ There is an inarticulate language of
the lips in use on these occasions in which we are all proficient； though we
sometimes forget it in later life。 Natalie seated herself on a locker。 The tea；
sugar； and spices were at her back； a side of bacon swung over her head；
and a net full of lemons dangled before her face。 It might not be roomy；
but it was snug and comfortable。
〃Suppose they call for the steward？〃 she suggested。 （〃Don't； Launce！〃）
〃Never mind。 We shall be safe enough if they do。 The steward has only
to show himself on deck； and they will suspect nothing。〃
〃Do be quiet； Launce！ I have got dreadful news to tell you。 And；
19
… Page 20…
Miss or Mrs。？
besides； my aunt will expect to see me with my braid sewn on again。〃
She had brought her needle and thread with her。 Whipping up the skirt
of her dress on her knee； she bent forward over it； and set herself
industriously to the repair of the torn trimming。 In this position her lithe
figure showed charmingly its firm yet easy line。 The needle； in her
dexterous brown fingers； flew through its work。 The locker was a broad
one； Launce was able to seat himself partially behind her。 In this position
who could have resisted the temptation to lift up her great knot of broadly…
plaited black hair； and to let the warm； dusky nape of her neck disclose
itself to view？ Who； looking at it； could fail to revile the senseless modern
fashion of dressing the hair； which hides the double beauty of form and
color that nestles at the back of a woman's neck？ From time to time； as the
interview proceeded； Launce's lips emphasized the more important words
occurring in his share of the conversation on the soft； fragrant skin which
the lifted hair let him see at intervals。 In Launce's place； sir； you would
have done it too。
〃Now； Natalie； what is the news？〃
〃He has spoken to papa； Launce。〃
〃Richard Turlington？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Dn him！〃
Natalie started。 A curse addressed to the back of your neck； instantly
followed by a blessing in the shape of a kiss； is a little trying when you are
not prepared for it。
〃Don't do that again； Launce！ It was while you were on deck smoking；
and when I was supposed to be fast asleep。 I opened the ventilator in my
cabin door； dear； and I heard every word they said。 He waited till my aunt
was out of the way； and he had got papa all to himself； and then he began
it in that horrible； downright voice of his'Graybrooke！ how much longer
am I to wait？'〃
〃Did he say that？〃
〃No more swearing； Launce！ Those were the words。 Papa didn't
understand them。 He only said （poor dear！）'Bless my soul； Richard； what
20
… Page 21…
Miss or Mrs。？
do you want？' Richard soon explained himself。 'Who could he be waiting
forbut Me？' Papa said something about my being so young。 Richard
stopped his mouth directly。 'Girls were like fruit； some ripened soon； and
some ripened late。 Some were women at twenty；