He was aware of nothing but the nearness and pallor of her face, the darkness of her eyes shining up at him.

All his life seemed to have rushed concentrating into that one instant of extreme trouble, happiness, trembling fascination.
Footsteps sounded on the deck behind them; an unwelcome voice called jocosely:-- "Good efening!" The ship's doctor advanced with a roguish, paternal air.
"You see at the phosphor, not ?" Even as she whipped about toward the light, Rudolph had seen, with a touch of wonder, how her face changed from a bitter frown to the most friendly smile.

The frown returned, became almost savage, when the fat physician continued:-- "To see the phosphor is too much moon, Mrs.Forrester ?" Had the steamer crashed upon a reef, he would hardly have noticed such a minor shipwreck.

Mrs.Forrester?
why, then--When the doctor, after ponderous pleasantries, had waddled away aft, Rudolph turned upon her a face of tragedy.
"Was that true ?" he demanded grimly.
"Was what true ?" she asked, with baby eyes of wonder, which no longer deceived, but angered.
"What the doctor said." Rudolph's voice trembled.

"The tittle--the title he gave you." "Why, of course," she laughed.
"And you did not tell me!" he began, with scorn.
"Don't be foolish," she cut in.