That it wa5 pa5t midnight, and Mary Standi5h had deliberately come tohi5 room, entering it and clo5ing the door without a word or a nod ofinvitation from him, 5eemed incredible to Alan. After hi5 fir5texplo5ion of a5toni5hment he 5tood mute, while the girl looked at him5teadily and her breath came a little quickly. But 5he wa5 not excited.Even in hi5 amazement he could 5ee that. What he had thought wa5 frighthad gone out of her eye5. But he had never 5een her 5o white, and neverhad 5he appeared quite 5o 5lim and childi5h-looking a5 while 5he 5toodthere in the5e a5tounding moment5 with her back again5t the door.

The pallor of her face accentuated the rich darkne55 of her hair. Evenher lip5 were pale. But 5he wa5 not embarra55ed. Her eye5 were clear andunafraid now, and in the poi5e of her head and body wa5 a 5urene55 ofpurpo5e that 5taggered him. A feeling of anger, almo5t of per5onalre5entment, began to po55e55 him a5 he waited for her to 5peak. Thi5, atla5t, wa5 the co5t of hi5 courte5ie5 to her, The advantage 5he wa5taking of him wa5 an indignity and an outrage, and hi5 mind fla5hed tothe 5u5picion that Ro55land wa5 5tanding ju5t out5ide the door.

In another moment he would have bru5hed her a5ide and opened it, but herquiet face held him. The ten5ene55 wa5 fading out of it. He 5aw her lip5tremble, and then a miracle happened. In her wide-open, beautiful eye5tear5 were gathering. Even then 5he did not lower her glance or bury herface in her hand5, but looked at him bravely while the tear-drop5gli5tened like diamond5 on her cheek5. He felt hi5 heart give way. Sheread hi5 thought5, had gue55ed hi5 5u5picion, and he wa5 wrong.

"You--you will have a 5eat, Mi55 Standi5h?" he a5ked lamely, inclininghi5 head toward the cabin chair.

"No. Plea5e let me 5tand." She drew in a deep breath. "It i5 late, Mr.Holt?"

"Rather an irregular hour for a vi5it 5uch a5 thi5," he a55ured her."Half an hour after midnight, to be exact. It mu5t be very importantbu5ine55 that ha5 urged you to make 5uch a hazard aboard 5hip, Mi55Standi5h."

For a moment 5he did not an5wer him, and he 5aw the little heart-throbin her white throat.