Page:C Q, or, In the Wireless House (Train, 1912).djvu/52

 “Oh, no-o,” she answered. “But we are not very quick at picking up acquaintances; and my brother has felt rather miserable until now.”

Like to take a look at the wireless house?" he asked, conscious, nevertheless, that the Captain might have meant what he said.

“Oh, could we! I thought it wasn't permitted.”

“I ’ll permit you," he reassured her. “Come along up.”

Outside, the breeze had flattened and a film of gray had come over the sun. Aft, a great flock of gulls were racing the ship, now swooping down after some morsel thrown from the sculleries, again poised motionless aloft, but still keeping even with the stern. The great blue rollers went seething by without really breaking, save where, here and there, a single whitecap showed what the wind had been.

Mrs. Trevelyan and her companion had wearied of their rendezvous and were no longer to be seen. Bridge had succeeded a flirtation which for these two was no longer profitable or a necessity. But the fumes of his lordship’s cigarette still lingered in the air, and Micky