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decanters and wine…glasses； we sat down to whist； Mrs。 Peck； to
oblige； taking a hand in the game。 She played very badly and talked
too much； and when the rubber was over assuaged her discomfiture
（though not minewe had been partners） with a Welsh rabbit and a
tumbler of something hot。 We had done with the cards； but while she
waited for this refreshment she sat with her elbows on the table
shuffling a pack。
〃She hasn't spoken to me yetshe won't do it；〃 she remarked in a
moment。
〃Is it possible there's any one on the ship who hasn't spoken to
you？〃
〃Not that girlshe knows too well！〃 Mrs。 Peck looked round our
little circle with a smile of intelligenceshe had familiar
communicative eyes。 Several of our company had assembled； according
to the wont； the last thing in the evening； of those who are cheerful
at sea； for the consumption of grilled sardines and devilled bones。
〃What then does she know？〃
〃Oh she knows _I_ know。〃
〃Well； we know what Mrs。 Peck knows；〃 one of the ladies of the group
observed to me with an air of privilege。
〃Well； you wouldn't know if I hadn't told youfrom the way she
acts；〃 said our friend with a laugh of small charm。
〃She's going out to a gentleman who lives over therehe's waiting
there to marry her；〃 the other lady went on； in the tone of authentic
information。 I remember that her name was Mrs。 Gotch and that her
mouth looked always as if she were whistling。
〃Oh he knowsI've told him；〃 said Mrs。 Peck。
〃Well； I presume every one knows；〃 Mrs。 Gotch contributed。
〃Dear madam； is it every one's business？〃 I asked。
〃Why； don't you think it's a peculiar way to act？〃and Mrs。 Gotch
was evidently surprised at my little protest。
〃Why it's right therestraight in front of you； like a play at the
theatreas if you had paid to see it；〃 said Mrs。 Peck。 〃If you
don't call it public！〃
〃Aren't you mixing things up？ What do you call public？〃
〃Why the way they go on。 They're up there now。〃
〃They cuddle up there half the night；〃 said Mrs。 Gotch。 〃I don't
know when they come down。 Any hour they like。 When all the lights
are out they're up there still。〃
〃Oh you can't tire them out。 They don't want relieflike the ship's
watch！〃 laughed one of the gentlemen。
〃Well； if they enjoy each other's society what's the harm？〃 another
asked。 〃They'd do just the same on land。〃
〃They wouldn't do it on the public streets； I presume；〃 said Mrs。
Peck。 〃And they wouldn't do it if Mr。 Porterfield was round！〃
〃Isn't that just where your confusion comes in？〃 I made answer。
〃It's public enough that Miss Mavis and Mr。 Nettlepoint are always
together； but it isn't in the least public that she's going to be
married。〃
〃Why how can you saywhen the very sailors know it！ The Captain
knows it and all the officers know it。 They see them there；
especially at night； when they're sailing the ship。〃
〃I thought there was some rule！〃 submitted Mrs。 Gotch。
〃Well； there isthat you've got to behave yourself；〃 Mrs。 Peck
explained。 〃So the Captain told mehe said they have some rule。 He
said they have to have； when people are too undignified。〃
〃Is that the term he used？〃 I inquired。
〃Well； he may have said when they attract too much attention。〃
I ventured to discriminate。 〃It's we who attract the attentionby
talking about what doesn't concern us and about what we really don't
know。〃
〃She said the Captain said he'd tell on her as soon as ever we
arrive；〃 Mrs。 Gotch none the less serenely pursued。
〃SHE said？〃 I repeated； bewildered。
〃Well； he did say so； that he'd think it his duty to inform Mr。
Porterfield when he comes on to meet herif they keep it up in the
same way；〃 said Mrs。 Peck。
〃Oh they'll keep it up； don't you fear！〃 one of the gentlemen
exclaimed。
〃Dear madam； the Captain's having his joke on you；〃 was； however； my
own congruous reply。
〃No； he ain'the's right down scandalised。 He says he regards us
all as a real family and wants the family not to be downright
coarse。〃 I felt Mrs。 Peck irritated by my controversial tone： she
challenged me with considerable spirit。 〃How can you say I don't
know it when all the street knows it and has known it for yearsfor
years and years？〃 She spoke as if the girl had been engaged at least
for twenty。 〃What's she going out for if not to marry him？〃
〃Perhaps she's going to see how he looks；〃 suggested one of the
gentlemen。
〃He'd look queerif he knew。〃
〃Well； I guess he'll know；〃 said Mrs。 Gotch。
〃She'd tell him herselfshe wouldn't be afraid；〃 the gentleman went
on。
〃Well she might as well kill him。 He'll jump overboard；〃 Mrs。 Peck
could foretell。
〃Jump overboard？〃 cried Mrs。 Gotch as if she hoped then that Mr。
Porterfield would be told。
〃He has just been waiting for thisfor long； long years；〃 said Mrs。
Peck。
〃Do you happen to know him？〃 I asked。
She replied at her convenience。 〃No； but I know a lady who does。
Are you going up？〃
I had risen from my placeI had not ordered supper。 〃I'm going to
take a turn before going to bed。〃
〃Well then you'll see！〃
Outside the saloon I hesitated； for Mrs。 Peck's admonition made me
feel for a moment that if I went up I should have entered in a manner
into her little conspiracy。 But the night was so warm and splendid
that I had been intending to smoke a cigar in the air before going
below； and I didn't see why I should deprive myself of this pleasure
in order to seem not to mind Mrs。 Peck。 I mounted accordingly and
saw a few figures sitting or moving about in the darkness。 The ocean
looked black and small； as it is apt to do at night； and the long
mass of the ship； with its vague dim wings； seemed to take up a great
part of it。 There were more stars than one saw on land and the
heavens struck one more than ever as larger than the earth。 Grace
Mavis and her companion were not； so far as I perceived at first；
among the few passengers who lingered late； and I was glad； because I
hated to hear her talked about in the manner of the gossips I had
left at supper。 I wished there had been some way to prevent it； but
I could think of none but to recommend her privately to reconsider
her rule of discretion。 That would be a very delicate business； and
perhaps it would be better to begin with Jasper； though that would be
delicate too。 At any rate one might let him know； in a friendly
spirit； to how much remark he exposed the young ladyleaving this
revelation to work its way upon him。 Unfortunately I couldn't
altogether believe that the pair were unconscious of the observation
and the opinion of the passengers。 They weren't boy and girl； they
had a certain social perspective in their eye。 I was meanwhile at
any rate in no possession of the details of that behaviour which had
made themaccording to the version of my good friends in the saloon…