"I know," said Susan triumphantly.
"Oh, no, you can't," said Ruddle in great haste. "I'm certain you can't, for it ain't possible."
But Susan lifted her sea-blue eyes to his and shook her head.
"I do know, Tom. You want to kiss me."
Tom gasped and stared at her. "Well, you are clever," he said, with the greatest air of admiration. "I don't believe that any other woman would have guessed it."
And Susan sat waiting.
"Well?" she said at last.
"Oh, may I?" asked Tom.
"Of course you may," said Susan, once more looking at the deck. And he kissed her, and then took her in his arms while she wept.
"And you are sure you love me again?" she asked.
"It's most wonderful," said Tom, "but now I come to think of it, I feel as if I had always loved you, and no other woman can as much as get a look in. There was a girl in London that thought I was goin' to tie up alongside, but she's away off it, and I'll never marry anyone but you."
