Her ideals of
honor and truth were shocked; but she was a woman as well as an
idealist, and she was stirred to the depths of her soul by the
knowledge that she had won the man whose love she craved. Yet it must
not be: she could never again hold her head high if she yielded to him.
She must relinquish him, drive him away from her by an assumed coldness
which would wring her very heart-strings. If he came nearer, if he
took her in his arms, she would be unable to resist him. Her impulse
was to fly, to lock herself in her room. But she could not drop the
wounded dog on the deck, and Joey, satisfied by his master's presence,
snuggled up close to her breast, and made the most of his comfortable
quarters. And now, while Courtenay stroked Joey with one hand, he
placed the other on Elsie's shoulder. What a plight for a frightened
maid who wished to escape! Of course, because she wished that some one
would come to her help, the deck was practically deserted. Certainly,
Mr. Boyle did appear at the after end of the corridor; but he seemed to
remember something strong and urgent which the crew ought to hear, and
he turned back.
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