Page:Ruth of the U.S.A. (IA ruthofusa00balm).pdf/89

 shut eyes, breathing deliciously the strange, scrubbed, salty smells of a deep-water boat; she opened the door and went out to the deck with the darkness of the Hudson on one hand; upon the other, the myriad-lighted majesty of New York.

She was standing there at the rail gazing up at the marvelous city when Hubert Lennon found her. He merely wanted to make sure she was aboard. Gerry Hull and Captain Lescault—he was the French officer who had spoken at Mrs. Corliss'—and an English captain, Forraker, of the same party, were aboard now; Lady Agnes and the Englishwomen with whom she traveled also were aboard, Hubert said.

He was glad to find that Cynthia was all right; but he said that a nasty sea was running outside; the Ribot might go out at any time. Hubert thought Cynthia had better go to bed and get all the sleep she could.

Ruth went below, not with any idea of sleeping, but to avoid meeting Gerry Hull just yet. That she was aboard the Ribot under orders did not undo the fact that she was here for the conscious purpose of furthering her acquaintance with him. He must guess that, she thought—he from whom she had heard nothing at all since that afternoon at Mrs. Corliss'.

Ruth was ready for bed when someone put a key in the cabin door, but knocked before turning it, and a girl's pleasant voice inquired, "All right to come in?"

"All right," Ruth said, covering up in bed.

A dark-haired, dark-eyed girl of twenty-six or seven entered. "I'm Milicent Wetherell," she introduced her-