"Not a bit!" she answered spiritedly. "That is, this particular occasion is not a joke. It is the whole thing that is that."

"A joke to take … Is there a real man of the name of the Earl of Athlyne? "

"I believe so," she said this faintly; she had an idea of what was coming.

"Then Judith I should like some rational explanation of how you come to couple my daughter's name in such a way with that of a strange man. It is not seemly to say the least of it. Does my daughter allow this to be done?"

"Oh Colonel, it is only a joke amongst ourselves. I hope you won't make too much of it."

"Too much of it! I couldn't make enough of it! If the damned fellow was here I'd shoot him!"

"But, my God, the man doesn't know anything about it; no more than you did a minute ago." Miss Judith was really alarmed; she knew the Colonel. He waved his hand as though dismissing her from the argument:

"Don't worry yourself, my dear: this is a matter amongst men. We know how to deal with such things!" He said no more on the subject, but talked during breakfast as usual. When he rose to go on deck Judy followed him timidly. When they were away from the few already on deck she touched him on the arm.

"Give me just a minute?" she entreated.

"A score if you like, my dear!" he answered heartily as he led her to a seat in a sheltered corner behind the saloon skylight, and sat beside her. "What is it? "

"Lucius you have always been very good to me. All these years that I have lived in your house as your very sister you never had a word for me that wasn't kind …" He interrupted her, laying his hand on hers which was on the arm of her deck chair:

"Why else, my dear Judy! You and I have always been the best of friends. And my dear you have never