CHAPTER  n

*  No,  Molly,  I  don't  think  it's  very  nice  of  yon,'  said
Victoria,  '  we've  been  out  four  days  and  I've  done
nothing  but  mope  and  mope ;  it's  all  very  well  my
being  a  widow  and  all  that :  I'm  not  suggesting
you  and  I  should  play  hop  scotch  on  deck  with  the
master  gunner,  but  for  four  days  I've  been  reading
a  three  months  old  Harper  s  and  the  memoirs  of
Mademoiselle  de  I  don't  know  what,  and  .  .  .'

*  But  what  have  I  done  ?  '  cried  Molly.
'I'm  bored,'  replied  Victoria,  with  admirable
detachment,  *  and  what's  more,  I  don't  intend  to
go  on  being  bored  for  another  fortnight ;  I'm  going
on  deck  to  find  somebody  to  amuse  me.*

*  You  can't  do  that,'  said  Molly,  *  they're  washing  it.'

*  Very  well,  then,  I'll  go  and  watch  and  sing  songs
to  the  men.'  Victoria  glared  at  her  unoffending
companion,  her  lips  tightening  and  her  jaw  growing
ominously  squarer.
'  But  my  dear  girl,'  said  Molly,  *  I'm  awfully  sorry.
