out so far—sudden panic closed about her heart— she tried to call to the boy ahead of her, but a little wave broke in her face and carried her voice away. She thought that she screamed—she was quite sure that she screamed aloud in terror before someone put out the sunshine and blotted out the world, leaving only miles and miles of clear, green water, into which she sank slowly down . . . 

38

38

 CHAPTER IV 

 "Thy friend will come to thee unsought 

 With nothing can his love be bought; 

 Trust him greatly and for aye, 

 A true friend comes but once your way." 

CHRIS LAWLESS came back into the hotel lounge almost as soon as his wife and young Atkins had left it. He looked quickly round for Marie. 

His conscience had begun to prick him a little. He had noticed the pallor of Marie's face at breakfast time, and the something strained in her determined cheeriness, and, good fellow as he really was at heart, he felt unhappy. 

He had meant to do the right thing by her when he married her. He had always prided himself upon being a sportsman. He had no intention of allowing people to say that he neglected his wife, or that his marriage had turned out a failure. He liked everything he undertook to be a success. 

And he was fond of Marie! He had always been fond of her in his own way. There was no earthly reason that he could see why they should not get on ideally well together. 

But Marie was not in the lounge. He looked round with a slight frown, and his gaze fell upon Feathers, yawning behind his paper. 

Chris went up to him. 

"Where's Marie?" 

"She went out just now with Atkins. I heard them say something about a swim." 

Chris looked annoyed. 

"She ought to have waited for me," he said shortly. "Atkins takes too much upon himself." 

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