Page:Morley roberts--Blue Peter--sea yarns.djvu/207

Rh "Unless what?" asked Susan, with her eyes on the deck. She herself had an idea of the way out, but she wanted him to find it.

"It's very odd that I should feel as I do, as we have been married," said Ruddle; "but I'm that took aback by the facts as they show up against my present lights, that I seem in a dream, like as if I had sternway on me and was in a regular tangle. Tell me, when I was a missionary was I much afraid of you?"

Susan sighed and took him by the arm.

"I think you were a little afraid sometimes, Tom, especially if I was cross with you."

"Ah, I dessay," said her husband. "And if I was scared of you at times when I knew you, it seems natural, don't it, that I should be worse scared of you now that I don't?"

"But you aren't really frightened of me, darling, are you?" asked Susan, once more turning on the water-works.

"When you cry and call me that," said Ruddle, "I don't know where I am, and I want to"

"You want to what?" asked Susan in the sweetest voice.

"I—I don't quite know," stammered Ruddle.