And she answered, “No, not a bit.”

Then they both continued reading the papers until all pretense of breakfast was over; and he rose, and, asking if she would be ready at about half-past twelve, to go on board, so as to avoid the crowd from the London train, he went quietly out of the room, and from the windows she afterwards saw him taking a walk on the pier.

And for some unexplained psychological reason, although she had now apparently obtained exactly the terms she had decided were the only possible ones on which to live with him, she experienced no sense of satisfaction or peace!

No pair could have looked more adorably attractive and interesting than Lord and Lady Tancred did as they went to their private cabin on the boat an admiring group of Dover young ladies thought, watching from the raised part above where the steamer starts.  Every one concerned knew that this thrilling bride and bridegroom would be crossing, and the usual number of the daily spectators was greatly increased.

“What wonderful chinchilla!” “What lovely hair!” and “Oh! isn’t he just too splendid!” they said.  And the maid and the valet, carrying the jewel case, dressing bags, cushion and sable rug, followed, to the young ladies’ extra delight.

The apanages of a great position, when augmented by the romance of a wedding journey, are dear to the female heart.

They had the large cabin on the upper deck of the Queen, and it was noticed that until the London train could be expected to arrive the bridal pair went outside and sat where they could not be observed, with a view towards Dover Castle.  But it could not be seen that they never spoke a word and that each read a book.

When it seemed advisable to avoid the crowd Tristram glanced up and said,

“I suppose we shall have to stay in that beastly cabin now, or some cad will snapshot us.  Will you come along?”

And so they went.

“It is going to be really quite rough,” he continued, when the door was shut.  “Would you like to lie down—­or what?”

“I am never the least ill, but I will try and sleep,” Zara answered resignedly, as she undid her chinchilla coat.

So he settled the pillows, and she lay down, and he covered her up; and as he did so, in spite of his anger with her and all his hurt pride he had the most maddeningly strong desire to kiss her and let her rest in his arms.  So he turned away brusquely and sat down at the farther end, where he opened the window to let in some air, and pulled the curtain over it, and then tried to go on with his book.  But every pulse in his body was throbbing, and at last he could not control the overmastering desire to look at her.

She raised herself a little, and began taking the finely-worked, small-stoned, sapphire pins out of her hat.  They had been Cyril’s gift.

“Can I help you?” he said.

“It is such soft fur I thought I need not take it off to lie down,” she answered coldly, “but there is something hurting in the back.”