even by himself, whether, to put it plainly, he were in love with Mary Blake, he would, no doubt, have strenuously denied it; but it is certain that if any one had said or intimated that any feature or characteristic of hers was faulty or susceptible of any change for the better, he would have secretly disliked that person, and entertained the meanest opinion of that person’s mental and moral attributes.  He would have liked the voyage prolonged indefinitely, or, at any rate, as long as the provisions held out.

It has been remarked by some one that all mundane things come to an end sooner or later, and, so far as my experience goes, it bears out that statement.  The engines were successfully repaired, and the ship eventually came to anchor outside the harbor about eleven o’clock on the night of the last day.  Mary and John were standing together at the forward rail.  There had been but little talk between them, and only of a desultory and impersonal character.  As the anchor chains rattled in the hawse-pipes, John said, “Well, that ends it.”

“What ends what?” she asked.

“The voyage, and the holiday, and the episode, and lots of things,” he replied.  “We have come to anchor.”

“Yes,” she said, “the voyage is over, that is true; but, for my part, if the last six months can be called a holiday, its end is welcome, and I should think you might be glad that your holiday is over, too.  But I don’t quite understand what you mean by ’the episode and lots of things.’”

There was an undertone in her utterance which her companion did not quite comprehend, though it was obvious to him.

“The episode of—­of—­our friendship, if I may call it so,” he replied.

“I call it so,” she said decisively.  “You have certainly been a friend to all of us.  This episode is over to be sure, but is there any more than that?”

“Somebody says that ‘friendship is largely a matter of streets,’” said John gloomily.  “To-morrow you will go your way and I shall go mine.”

“Yes,” she replied, rather sharply, “that is true enough; but if that cynical quotation of yours has anything in it, it’s equally true, isn’t it, that friendship is a matter of cabs, and street cars, and the elevated road?  Of course, we can hardly be expected to look you up, but Sixty-ninth Street isn’t exactly in California, and the whole question lies with yourself.  I don’t know if you care to be told so, but Julius and my sister like you very much, and will welcome you heartily always.”

“Thanks, very much!” said John, staring straight out in front of him, and forming a determination that Sixty-ninth Street would see but precious little of him.  She gave a side glance at him as he did not speak further.  There was light enough to see the expression of his mouth, and she read his thought almost in words.  She had thought that she had detected a suggestion of sentimentality on his part which she intended to keep strictly in abeyance,