Page:Cruise of the Jasper B (1916).djvu/80

 hand, was evidently thinking of something else. Leaning back in her chair, she said to Cleggett:

"It is no good for you to deny that you think I'm a horridly unconventional sort of person!"

Cleggett made a polite, deprecatory gesture.

"Yes, yes, you do," she said, decidedly. "And, really, I am! I am impulsive! I am too impulsive!" She raised the cup to her lips, drank, and looked off towards the western horizon, which the sun was beginning to paint ruddily; she mused, murmuring as if to herself: "Sir Archibald always thought I was too impulsive, dear man."

After a meditative pause she said, leaning her elbows on the table and gazing searchingly into Cleggett's eyes:

"I am going to trust you. I am going to reward your kindness by telling you a portion of my strange story. I am going to depend upon you to understand it."

Cleggett bowed and murmured his gratitude at the compliment. Then he said:

"You could trust me with" But he stopped. He did not wish to be premature.

"With my life. I could trust you with my life," finished the lady, gravely. "I know that. I