But black Care, that clambers aboard the sea-going galley, did not disdain a seat in the stern of Mr. Fogo’s boat.  She sat her down there, and would not budge for all his pulling.  Neither could the smile of the clear sky woo her thence, nor the voices of the day; but as on ship-board she must still be talking to the man at the wheel, and on horseback importunately whispering to the rider from her pillion, so now she besieged the ear of Mr. Fogo, to whom her very sex was hateful.

Further and further he rowed in vain attempt to shake off this incubus; passed at some distance the rock where the picnickers had spread their meal (luckily, the Admiral’s back was turned to the river), doubled the next bend, ran his boat ashore on a little patch of shingle overarched with trees, and, stepping out, sat down to smoke a pipe.

Secure from observation, he could hear the laughter of the picnickers borne melodiously through the trees; and either this or the tobacco chased his companion from his side; for his brow cleared, the puffs of smoke came more calmly, and before the pipe was smoked out, Mr. Fogo had sunk into a most agreeable fit of abstraction.

He was rudely aroused by the sound of voices close at hand.  Indeed, the speakers were but a few yards off, on the bank above him.

Now Mr. Fogo was the last man to desire to overhear a conversation.  But the first word echoed so aptly his late musings, and struck his memory, too, with so deep a pang, that before he recovered it was too late.

“Geraldine!”

“Oh! why is it?”—­(it was a woman’s voice that asked the question, though not the voice that Mr. Fogo had half expected to hear, and his very relief brought a shudder with it)—­“oh! why is it that a man and a woman cannot talk together except in lies?  You ask if I am unhappy.  Say what you mean.  Do I hate my husband?  Well, then—­yes!”

“My dear Mrs.—­”

“Is that frank enough?  Oh! yes, I have lied so consistently throughout my married life that I tell the truth now out of pure weariness.  I detest him:  sometimes I feel that I must kill either Fred or myself, and end it all.”

“Bless my soul!” murmured Mr. Fogo, cowering more closely.  “This country teems with extraordinary people!”

He held his breath as the deeper voice answered—­

“Had I thought—­”

“Stop!  I know what you would say, and it is untrue.  Be frank as I am.  You had half-guessed my secret, and were bound to convince yourself:  and why?  Shall I tell you, or will you copy my candour and speak for yourself?”

Dead silence followed this question.  After some seconds the woman’s voice resumed—­

“Ah! all men are cowards.  Well, I will tell you.  Your question implied yet another, and it was, Do I, hating my husband, love you?”

“Geraldine!”

“Do you still wish that question answered?  I will do you that favour also:  Listen:  for the life of me—­I don’t know.”