Page:In a Steamer Chair and Other Stories.djvu/51

Rh The young lady smiled sweetly and held out her hand, which Morris took in an awkward way.

"I was just going to ask you," she said, "when you came aboard. How ridiculous that would have been! Of course, you have been here all the time. Isn't it curious that we have not met each other? We of all persons in the world."

Morris, who had somewhat recovered his breath, looked steadily at her as she said this, and her eyes, after encountering his gaze for a moment, sank to the floor.

Miss Earle, who had waited for a moment expecting that Morris would introduce her, but seeing that he had, for the time being, apparently forgotten everything on earth, quietly left them, and took her place at the breakfast table. The blond young lady looked up again at Mr. Morris, and said:

"I am afraid I am keeping you from breakfast."

"Oh, that doesn't matter."

"I am afraid, then," she continued sweetly, "that I am keeping you from your very interesting table companion."

"Yes, that does matter," said Morris, looking at her. "I wish you good-morning, madam." And with that he left her and took his place at the head of the small table.

There was a vindictive look in the blond young