She reminded herself that she had acted entirely in self-defence, not through malice, and she had not told a single lie about Peter.  She had but said—­in words—­that some men were safer than others, which every one knew to be true; that Peter was rather foolish about women (so he was—­ridiculously soft, not modern in his ideas at all!), and that it would be better for the girl to accept help from her—­Ena—­than from a young man.  It was very good advice, and nothing Peter ought to be angry about, even if he should ever hear—­which, pray heaven, he might not!  As Ena reminded herself how wise and tactful she had been, a faint glow stole into the chilly zone round her heart, just as you can heat a cold foot by concentrating yourself on telling it that it is warm.

“I want to be your friend,” she went on sweetly.  “Perhaps you aren’t very rich?  As girl to girl, let me offer you a little, little present—­or a loan—­a hundred dollars.  I’ve got it with me—–­”

“Oh, thank you many times, but I couldn’t possibly!” cried Win.  “I don’t need it.  I have lots of money.”

“I’m glad—­though I should have liked the pleasure,” said Ena.  And she genuinely would, because the act of giving would have pumped warmth into the cold place without waiting for time to change the temperature.

“There’s one thing you must let me do, anyhow,” she persisted.  “That dress—­the ‘Blue Moon,’ isn’t it?—­that you tried on and my brother bought for me, I want you to accept it.  Oh, don’t say no!  It’s miles too long for me” (she couldn’t have brought herself to confess that it was hopelessly small for waist and hips), “and I never enjoy altered dresses—­the style’s lost.  So you’ll not be robbing me.  If you won’t have it, I shall believe it’s a sign that you’re offended at my interference.”

Winifred thought for an instant and drew a long breath.  “Then I must take the dress,” she said.  “It’s more than good of you, of course.  I shan’t be in the kind of world where I can wear it, but—–­”

“Keep it to remember this evening—­I mean, to remember me,” Miss Rolls hastily amended.

“I will,” said Win simply.  But there was no danger that she would ever forget Miss Rolls—­or her kindness.

CHAPTER V

SCENES FOR A “MOVIE”

When Peter thought that he might decently return to B deck without breaking into charming womanly confidences, it was deserted.  The moon was struggling out through black clouds and pouring silver into the sea’s ink, but the girl in the moon was gone.

When he found Ena again—­which was easy because of the ruby cloak—­she was sitting between Raygan and Lady Eileen on the boat deck.  He knew that she would be annoyed if he mentioned Miss Child in this distinguished company, and, in any case, he would not have cared to speak of the girl there.

Realizing that he had kept away too long and lost his chance of seeing Miss Child again that night, he consoled himself by knocking at Ena’s door when she had evaded him and sought sanctuary in her cabin.  She let him in at once, not because she wanted to do so, but because he would “turn suspicious” if she made an excuse to keep him out.