It seemed to me that I had received my cue to leave. I bowed myself away,
and went about my duties. As we steamed bravely through the Straits of
Babelmandeb, with Perim on our left, rising lovely through the milky
haze, I came on deck again, and they were still near where I had left
them an hour before. I passed, glancing at them as I did so. They did not
look towards me. His eyes were turned to the shore, and hers were fixed
on him. I saw an expression on her lips that gave her face new character.
She was speaking, as I thought, clearly and mercilessly. I could not help
hearing her words as I passed them.
"You are going to be that--you!" There was a ring of irony in her tone. I
heard nothing more in words, but I saw him turn to her somewhat sharply,
and I caught the deep notes of his voice as he answered her. When, a
moment after, I looked back, she had gone below.
Galt Roscoe had a seat at Captain Ascott's table, and I did not see
anything of him at meal-times, but elsewhere I soon saw him a great deal.
He appeared to seek my company. I was glad of this, for I found that he
was an agreeable man, and had distinct originality of ideas, besides
being possessed of very considerable culture.
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