hour on deck a little later—there was something particular I wanted to say to him. He said, 'Oh yes, if you like,' with just a visible surprise, but no look of an uncomfortable consciousness. When I had finished my breakfast I found him smoking on the forward-deck and I immediately began: 'I am going to say something that you won't at all like; to ask you a question that you will think impertinent.'
'Impertinent? that's bad.'
'I am a good deal older than you and I am a friend—of many years—of your mother. There's nothing I like less than to be meddlesome, but I think these things give me a certain right—a sort of privilege. For the rest, my inquiry will speak for itself.'
'Why so many preliminaries?' the young man asked, smiling.
We looked into each other's eyes a moment. What indeed was his mother's manner—her best manner—compared with his? 'Are you prepared to be responsible?'
'To you?'
'Dear no—to the young lady herself. I am speaking of course of Miss Mavis.'
'Ah yes, my mother tells me you have her greatly on your mind.'
'So has your mother herself—now.'
'She is so good as to say so—to oblige you.'
'She would oblige me a great deal more by reassuring me. I am aware that you know I have told her that Miss Mavis is greatly talked about.'
'Yes, but what on earth does it matter?'
'It matters as a sign.'
'A sign of what?'
