The Golden Silence

e of him, in order that he should make a fool of himself. Of course it was a pose of hers to travel without chaperon or maid, and dress like a school girl from a provincial town, in cheap serge, a

no jewels at all, and appear in ready-made frocks bought in bargain-sales; while, as for the young woman's air of childlike innocence and inexperience, it might be a tribute to her cleverness as an actress, but it was not a tribute to his intelligence as a man, that he should have been taken in by it. Always, he told himself, he was being taken in by some woman. After the lesson he had had, he o

his promptness. By the time he had seen his luggage deposited in the cabin he had secured for himself alone, engaged a deck chair, and taken a look over the ship-which was new, and as handsome as much oak, fragrant cedar-wood, gilding, and green brocade could make her-many other passengers were coming on board. Travelling first class were several slim French o

ard whom he had ever met. He admired the harbour, and the shipping, and felt pleasantly exhilarated. "I feel very young, or very old, I'm not sure

e said that there was no sharp, dividing line between phases of existence, except one's own moods, and Stephen had thought this true; but now it see

his senses were keenly alert for the first time in many days. He saw Marseilles from a new point of view, and wondered why he had never read anything fine written in praise of the ancient Phoenician city. Though he had

shone opaline through long rents in mist veils, lent an air of romance to the scene, and Notre Dame de la Garde loomed nobly on her bleached and arid height. "Have no fear: I keep watch an

s grouped far beneath her eyrie, like mourners kneeling below the height to pray. The rock-shapes and island rocks that cut the blue glitter of the sea, suggested splendid tales of Phoenician mariners and Saracenic pirates, tales lost forever in the dim mists of time; and so Stephen wandered on to thoughts of Dumas, wishing he had brought "Monte Cristo," dearly loved when he was twelve. Probably not a soul on board had the book; people were so stupid and prosaic no

s chair. This time she had a rug of her own, a thin navy blue rug which, like her frock, might have been chosen for its chea

pink that sprang to her cheeks was the col

you, but I didn't suppose it wo

ch eyes, and the youth in her friendly smile. Since the girl seemed glad to see h

, standing near her chair, "but I didn't suppose it

e asked the question eagerly, like a child

ly beautiful and artistic," re

id like them, really," she said. "I oughtn't to have asked in that blunt

e pretty women were concerned. By doing this he kept himself armed against the clever little actress laughing at him behind the blue eyes of a child. "You must know that there c

onally for only a few months!" s

ed. "But before the dancing, there must have been so

fainting in coils? I'm certain you

Alice,'" said Stephen. "Do children of the

ty. "I loved Alice dearly. I don't know much about other children, though, for I never had a chance to

uld seem to me a little girl now, if I hadn't found out that you'

Paris was only my third engagement; and it's goin

n the young creature woke again; the personal sort of interest which

to reflect that he had no right to put int

ow can you see, unless you kn

he apologized. "It wa

t about m

t. About your no

e tell me t

u'd have a right to be angry-not at

romi

d successful actress makes up her mind to

e what you mean-unless you suppose I'v

induce you to leave the stage yet a while. You'd want

been dancin

en't

ge for a purpose. And you say you can guess what

t you might be going to marry. I thought

ying. I've never had time to think of such things. I've always-ever since I was nine years old-lo

aid Stephen. And it was true. The girl

she announced, a

was very frank, and evidently willing, for some reason, to talk of her aims, even to a comparative stranger; yet he kne

t wished her to see that he did not mean to presume upon any small right of acquaintanceship. As she was on the stage, and extremely attractive, no doubt men often tried to take such advantage, and he didn't intend to be one of them; therefore he su

s with a conventional little compliment, but though

e one where Victoria Ray sat, were places for four. Three were already occupi

cing Victoria Ray and Stephen Knight, and Stephen found it difficult not to stare at the superb, pale brown person whose very high white turban, bound with light grey cord, gave him a

betray. The look was respectful, despite its underlying passion. Nevertheless, because the handsome face was some shades darker than his own, it offended Stephen, who felt a sharp bite of dislike for the Arab. He was glad the man was not at the same table with Miss Ray, and knew that it would have vexed him intensely to see the girl drawn into conversation. He wondered that the French officers should talk with the Arab as with an equal, yet knew in his heart that such prejudice was narrow-minded, especially at the moment when he was travelling to the Arab's own country. He tried, though not very strenuously, to override his conviction of superiority to the Eastern man, but triumphed only far enough to admit that the fellow was handsome in a way. His skin was hardly darker than old ivory: the aquiline nose delicate as a woman's,

, told nothing. It was even puzzling, as an expression for a young girl's face to wear in looking at a handsome man so supremely conscious of sex and of his own attraction. She was evidently thinking about hi

broken off in the morning, paced up and down until he felt drowsy, not having slept in the train the night before. To his surprise and disgust, it was after