“I rather admire her devotion to the church,” said Veath, still a trifle dazed.

“She’s a great crank on religion,” admitted Hugh.  Then he could feel himself turn pale.  He was passing Grace off as a missionary, and thereby placing her under restrictions that never before had entered into her gay life.  Veath would treat her as if she were of fragile glass and it would not be long until the whole boat would be staring at the beautiful girl who was going to the heathen.  Remorse struck him and he tried to flounder out of the position.

[Illustration:  GRACE VERNON]

“I should not have said that about her views.  You would never take her to be an ardent church-member, and she is particularly averse to being called a missionary.  The truth about the matter is that very few people home know about this move of hers and there is no one on ship who even suspects.  She would not have had me tell it for the world.”

“My dear Mr. Ridge, don’t let that trouble you.  She shall never know that you have told me and I shall never repeat it.  Please rest assured; her wishes in the matter are most certainly to be considered sacred,” cried Veath warmly.

“Thanks, old man,” said Hugh, very much relieved.  “Your hand on that.  I am not sorry I told you, for I’m sure you will be careful.  She objects to the—­the—­well, the notoriety of the thing, you know.  Hates to be glared at, questioned, and all that sort of thing.”

“She is very sensible in that respect.  I have but little use for the people who parade their godliness.”

“That’s just the way she looks at it.  She would be uncomfortable all the way over if she thought that a single person knew of her intentions.  Funny girl that way.”

“If I were you, I don’t believe I’d tell any one else,” said Veath hesitatingly.

“That’s all right, Veath.  Depend upon me, I’ll not breathe it to another soul.  It shall not go a bit farther.  Grace wants to go about the good work as quietly as possible.  Still, I am bound to make her forget the heathen and return to America another woman altogether.”  Mr. Veath, of course, did not understand the strange smile that flitted over his companion’s face as he uttered the last remark.  “I’m glad I met you, Veath; we’ll get along famously, I’m sure.  There’s no reason why we shouldn’t make the voyage a jolly one.  I think we’d better get ready for luncheon,” said Hugh, looking at his watch.

Hugh took his departure, and fifteen minutes later was seated at one of the tables in the dining-room with Grace beside him.  He had told her of the missionary story and was trying to smile before her display of genuine annoyance.

“But I don’t want him to treat me as if I were a missionary,” she pouted.  “What fun can a missionary have?”

“Oho, you want to have fun with him, eh?  That’s the way the wind blows, is it?  I’ll just tell Mr. Veath that you pray night and day, and that you don’t like to be disturbed.  What do you suppose he’d be if he interrupted a woman’s prayers?” demanded he, glaring at her half jealously.