[Pg 46] [Pg 46] "You would have lost your head over her, too, old man. Such a face, such a voice, such an enchanting glance from the sweetest eyes ever seen!" "And such a goddess deigned to speak to you?" sarcastically. "Yes. Shall I tell you all about it? I'm dying to talk to some one about her!" "Don't die, then. I would rather be bored with your story than have to carry your corpse home to the regiment." "It was this way, then: I was ennuyé at the hotel, so I came on board early with my traps—as early as one o'clock. It was about two, I think, when she came—lady and gentleman with her." "Oh!" "Yes, and shawls—bags, books, bouquets—the three B's—ad infinitum. She had a dark veil over her face. Her friends bade her good-bye—lady kissed her with enthusiasm—then they gave her the shawls and three B's they had helped carry, and went away." "Who went away?" "The lady and gentleman went away. If you had been listening half-way to my story, Lancaster, you would have understood what I said." "Don't be offended. I am giving you my strictest attention. Go on, please." "She gathered all her things in her arms—she should have had a maid, really—and began to trip across the deck. Then the wind—bless its viewless fingers whirled off her veil and tossed it in the air." [Pg 47] [Pg 47] "Fortunate!" muttered Lancaster. "Yes, wasn't it?" cried De Vere, in a lively tone. "So I gave chase to the bit of gossamer and captured it just as it was sailing skyward. I carried it back to her, and lo! a face—well, wait until you see her, that's all." "Is that the end of the story?" queried Lancaster, disappointed. "Not yet. Well, it was the sweetest face in the world. A real pink and white; eyes that were gray, but looked black because the lashes were so long and shady. Pouting lips, waving
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