Page:MacGrath--The luck of the Irish.djvu/74

 "Say, how do you get into the diner?"

"The chief steward will take care of you, sir. If you want any special place, you'd better apply at once, sir. Thank you." The steward nodded briefly as he turned away.

William had an idea. He rose and went over to the school-teacher's chair. "Miss Jones"; it wasn't at all romantic. But it might be assumed. Anyhow, it did not matter. He turned to his chair.

She came back.

"Say, I forgot to tell you that my name is Grogan."

"And mine is Jones." There was not the slightest hesitance in her reply.

"William Grogan, generally Bill."

"I certainly am not going to call you that." She laughed. This was nothing but a big, lonesome boy. So she accepted his advances for exactly what they were. "Here's the book. I know you'll enjoy it. It will make Florence and Rome doubly interesting to you."

"If it's got action, that's all I want. It's mighty kind of you. I'd probably jump overboard if I didn't have something to read."

"There is plenty to read in the ship's library."

"A library on board? Well, that's luck. Say, have you seen the steward about your seat in the dining-room?"

"I don't care where I sit."

"Would you mind if I saw to it?"

"Indeed no." She might better sit next to him