“No,” was forced from Jenny.  “No, I don’t ... not generally.  But to-night—­but that’s a long story, too.  With rows in it.”  Which made Keith laugh.  He laughed not quite naturally, forcing the last several jerks of his laughter, so that she shuddered at the thought of his possible contempt.  It was as if everything she said was lost before ever it reached his heart—­as if the words were like weak blows against an overwhelming strength.  Discouragement followed and deepened after every blow—­every useless and baffled word.  There was again silence, while Jenny set her teeth, forcing back her bitterness and her chagrin, trying to behave as usual, and to check the throbbing within her breast.  He was trying to charm her, teasingly to wheedle her back into kindness, altogether misunderstanding her mood.  He was guarded and considerate when she wanted only passionate and abject abandonment of disguise.

“We’ll toss up who shall begin first,” Keith said in a jocular way.  “How’s that for an idea?”

Jenny felt her lips tremble.  Frantically she shook her head, compressing the unruly lips.  Only by keeping in the same position, by making herself remain still, could she keep back the tears.  Her thought went on, that Keith was cruelly playing with her, mercilessly watching the effect of his own coldness upon her too sensitive heart.  Eh, but it was a lesson to her!  What brutes men could be, at this game!  And that thought gave her, presently, an unnatural composure.  If he were cruel, she would never show her wounds.  She would sooner die.  But her eyes, invisible to him, were dark with reproach, and her face drawn with agony.

“Well, we’d better do something,” she said, in a sharp voice; and rose to her feet.  “Where is it the things go?” Keith also rose, and Jenny felt suddenly sick and faint at the relaxation of her self-control.

ii

“Hullo, hullo!” Keith cried, and was at once by her side.  “Here; have a drink of water.”  Jenny, steadying herself by the table, sipped a little of the water.

“Is it the wine that’s made me stupid?” she asked.  “I feel as if my teeth were swollen, and my skin was too tight for my bones.  Beastly!”

“How horrid!” Keith said lightly, taking from her hand the glass of water.  “If it’s the wine you won’t feel the effects long.  Go on deck if you like.  You’ll feel all right in the air.  I’ll clear away.”  Jenny would not leave him.  She shook her head decidedly.  “Wait a minute, then.  I’ll come too!”

They moved quickly about, leaving the fruit and little sweets and almonds upon the sidetable, but carrying everything else through a sleeping-cabin into the galley.  It was this other cabin that still further deepened Jenny’s sense of pain—­of inferiority.  That was the feeling now most painful.  She had just realised it.  She was a common girl; and Keith—­ah, Keith was secure enough, she thought.