Sure enough, Lucy had found them, and came up to them beaming.  Chester failed to see in her any symptoms for the worse, as her father had indicated.  In fact, there certainly was a spring to her step which he had not seen before.

“Well, I’ve found you at last, you run-away papa.  Good morning,” she nodded to Chester, who returned the greeting.  “Don’t you know, papa, you have kept me waiting for half an hour or more to finish our game.”

“I’ll go right now with you,” said the father, rising.

“Well, I don’t care so much now, whether it’s finished or not.  I believe someone else has it anyway.”

“Oh, we’ll go and finish the game,” persisted Mr. Strong.

“Perhaps Mr. Lawrence will come along,” suggested the girl, as it seemed very proper to do.

“Not now, thank you,” replied Chester.  “I must finish my book before the lunch gong sounds.”

The minister took his daughter’s arm and they went along the deck to where a group was laughing merrily over the defeat and victory in the games.  Chester watched them mingle with the company, then he opened his book again; but he did not complete his story at the time he had appointed.

To those who can possess their souls in peace, life on ship-board in pleasant weather is restful, and may be thoroughly enjoyed.  A little world is here compactly put together, and human nature may be studied at close range.  From the elegant apartments of the saloon to the ill-smelling quarters of the steerage, there is variety enough.  Representatives are here from nearly “every nation under heaven:”  every creed, every color; every grade of intelligence and worldly position, from the prince who occupies exclusively the finest suite of rooms, to the begrimed half-naked stoker in the furnace room in the depths of the vessel; every occupation; every disposition.  And yet, even in this compact city in a shell of steel, one may seclude himself from his fellows and commune solely with his own thoughts or his books.

The three “Mormon” elders, reticent and quiet, had made few acquaintances.  The Rev. Mr. Strong and his daughter, not being very well, had not been active in the social proceedings of the ship’s company.

Chester Lawrence had formed an acquaintance which seemed to him to fill all requirements, so that he cared not whether he learned to know any more of his fellow travelers.  And now further association with this pleasant acquaintance must stop.  Well, once again he said to himself, he would be glad at sight of Liverpool, and again some deeply hidden voice protested.

Chester tried to keep his word with Mr. Strong.  He made no efforts to see Lucy or talk with her, and he even evaded her as much as possible.  This he could not wholly do without acting unmannerly.  All were on deck during those beautiful days, and twice on Tuesday Lucy and Chester and the elders had played deck quoits, the father joining in one of them.  Lucy beamed on Chester in her quiet way until she noted the change in his conduct towards her.  The pained expression on the girl’s face when she realized this change, went to Chester’s heart and he could have cried out in explanation.