CHAPTER XX

It is very trying, to say the least of it, to be overwhelmed by the waves and storms of one fierce emotion after another, and to be left finally stranded well-nigh lifeless on the shores of desolation and despair. But it is still more trying, under such painful circumstances, to be obliged to behave oneself as if nothing

## particular has occurred and to have to meet one's friends with a

complacent expression and talk to them in a well-behaved ordinary manner.

Such, however, is the case with Norah, as she makes her way back to the hut. How she manages to find her way there over the rough ground in the fading light, her eyes half blinded with tears, is something which she herself certainly could not account for. But she does find her path, somehow; and, when nearing the end of it, comes face to face with good Mrs. Shaw, who has set out to meet her, anxious about her charge and prepared to give her a motherly scolding for staying out of doors too long.

Norah is thankful that it is already too dark for her face to be seen very clearly, and furtively dries her eyes as she prepares to listen to Mrs. Shaw; luckily, it is quite certain that the loquacious lady will undertake most of the talking!

"You bad girl," begins the kindly voice, "to stay out to such an hour when I told you that you were only to be out for a little while! You will be catching a cold and getting ill again and I don't know what! Ah; it's no good saying you won't!"--Norah, be it noticed, has not said a word--"I know you _will_! But, bless me, you young things are all alike; while you are healthy and strong you think you can do anything and laugh at a body who tells you you can't play with your health without paying for it! Wait till you come to my age, my dear--wait till you have your first touch of rheumatism! But I suppose you notice nothing when you are in the company of a fine handsome young man. And quite right too--you can only be young but once! Dear me, what am I saying? I ought to be scolding you, and instead of that--by the way, where is he? What have you done with him?"

"He had to get back," lamely answers the girl in a thin piping voice.

"Had to get back did he? Hm! I should think so--spending the best part of the afternoon philandering with a pretty girl; a nice way to employ his time, when there's a war on! If all young naval officers idle their days like that it's a wonder the navy gets along at all! But I can't be angry with Alick. He's a sad dog, but a dear--don't you think so? Isn't he just the sort of man that any girl might lose her heart to?"

"Oh, I don't know, Mrs. Shaw, yes--no, I mean. I'm sorry--I'm afraid I wasn't listening,"--which is not quite true, for, Norah has heard only too well and feels her heart torn by the idle question. She feigns tiredness as an excuse for not making any more coherent reply--and it is not entirely feigning, for she stumbles a little in her walk and is glad enough to support herself on Mrs. Shaw's kindly arm.

So the good woman pilots her charge to the hut, and together they seek the friendly shelter of the room where Netta is lying.

And, oh, how Norah longs to be left alone with her cousin! For she must tell her of the dreadful thing that has happened in the discovery of her secret, and must warn her of the danger that threatens the three of them. Perhaps, even she may find some counsel in Netta--if any counsel can be of avail in such a desperate case!

But for some time the uninterrupted flow of words proceeding from the well-meaning lady's lips leaves little hope of a conversation in private. Mrs. Shaw vents her solicitude for her two patients in a ceaseless torrent of remarks, questions and commands, all of the kindest nature but almost unendurable to the two girls whose chief desire is to be left alone together.

"There now," exclaims the smiling dame, as she plies her patients with steaming hot soup, "that will make you look a little bit brighter by the time the admiral sees you again. He told me he should look in here on his way back. I don't know what he would say to me if he saw you looking as white as you are now!"

At last the good but somewhat trying lady fusses out of the room, having suddenly thought of some other nourishing concoction which she can prepare for the further invigoration of the two girls, and she leaves them free to talk, much to Norah's relief; and to Netta's also, for she has seen that some matter is troubling her cousin.

Norah is not long in pouring forth her story, to which the other girl listens with the utmost concern.

Netta is horrified, as Norah had been, to learn the dread news of the loss of the _Marathon_ with so many lives. At first she could hardly believe it, having been so confident that Patrick's purpose had been foiled at the last; but she is unwillingly forced to give credit to the terrible story, and great indeed is her grief. From the very first, it must be remembered, she had been drawn into the conspiracy largely against her own conviction and consent.

But it is noteworthy that her chief concern is for her cousin, Norah--just as Norah's is for her. These two girls, both of them brave enough to face the consequences of their own misdoings, are both cowards in respect of each other's peril.

"What is to be done?" Norah asks, thinking inwardly how she can shield Netta.

"We must try and think of some plan," answers Netta, eager to light upon some means of securing Norah's immunity.

"How dreadfully unfortunate that Baynes should have happened by chance to be sent to this place," Norah broods; "surely it was more than a coincidence--it was the hand of Fate that sent him!"

"He was very good to me in Glasgow," muses Netta; and there is a certain purpose in her apparently idle reminiscence, though she keeps her meaning to herself and does not let Norah into the secret of her meditations.

"Is there _nothing_ you can think of?" implores the other, impatient at Netta for allowing her thoughts to stray inconsequently to the handsome young seaman at such a crisis. "Can't you suggest any plan at all?"

It is strange how the stronger mind seems to lean now for support upon the weaker; Norah's gnawing anxiety for her cousin's safety has taken all the strength from her.

"There is only one thing I can think of," Netta meditates aloud, "and even that doesn't seem to hold out much hope."

"Oh, what is it?"

"_Come in, Admiral, come in._"

Mrs. Shaw's voice again! The poor girls are never to get the chance of a quiet talk, it seems!

"This way, Admiral. You will find them both considerably the better for their afternoon's rest, I think, though, I must confess I should have liked to see them a little less pale. This one especially--isn't she a bad girl, to go walking over the moor and tiring herself out when I expressly told her to take care of herself?"

"Well, young lady, I hope you've not been doing too much," says the admiral, all courtesy and smiles.

"I shall want you both to assist me to-morrow if you think you feel strong enough."

"To assist you, sir?" queries Norah, vaguely disturbed by a foreboding of more troubles in store.

"Yes, if you will be so good. But nothing to cause you any great distress. Only a few questions we should like to put to you in connection with--with your recent experiences, and that sort of thing."

This is very disturbing and alarming! Surely, the report already given by Patrick ought to be enough: but as Norah suddenly remembers, that report was made to the captain of the _Marathon_--and the _Marathon_ now rests, with her captain, in the grave of the seas.

Mrs. Shaw attempts to come to the rescue, jealous of any official interference with the two girls whom she regards as her own especial care.

"You will excuse me, Admiral," she says, "but if you will allow me to say so, I never heard such nonsense in all my life! Question them, indeed! You men are all alike, naval officers and the rest of you--you must make a fuss with your stupid enquiries and official investigations and stuff! What do you want to ask, I should like to know? Can't you leave the poor creatures in peace and give them a chance to pick up their strength after all they have been through? Questions! Stuff and nonsense!"

"Now, my dear Mrs. Shaw," smiles Admiral Darlington, who knows well the good lady's humour, "there is not the slightest occasion for you to scold me or to be alarmed on the young ladies' account. All that I have to say to them will not take long, and will, I trust, put them to very little inconvenience."

"Then why can't you say it here?" snaps Mrs. Shaw, far from being calmed down.

"Unfortunately, that is impossible. I have not altogether a free hand in these matters, and there are certain formalities and official methods to be observed which I am unable to dispense with. But everything shall be done for the comfort of your two patients, I assure you."

"Is there anything"--turning from Mrs. Shaw to the two girls--"anything you would wish for that I can do? You can command everybody and everything in the place, you know, or at least I can do it for you."

"Nothing, sir, thank you," answers Norah. "Oh, yes, I should like to see my cousin, Mr. Sheridan, early to-morrow morning, if possible."

"Hm!" The admiral seems ever so slightly worried at this apparently simple request. But he answers:

"Yes, you can see him, certainly. But you won't mind, perhaps, if you have to wait a little. Yes, I can promise you that you shall see him."

Norah is content with the reply.

"And you?" continues the admiral, turning to Netta, "is there anything that you would like?"

"If you please, sir," she says, "I have just heard that there is a man here whom I used to know once upon a time, and I should very much like to see him, this evening if it could be arranged."

Norah's face falls. What is Netta asking? Is she going to be rash enough to court danger needlessly?

"I have no doubt that can be arranged," replies Admiral Darlington, with much more readiness than he had shown in granting Norah's similar request. "What is the man's name? What ship is he in?"

"I don't know his ship," Netta tells him, "but his name is Baynes, Dick Baynes. He is an able seaman."

"Now, how can we find out where to get hold of him?" muses the admiral.

Mrs. Shaw solves the problem. "I think I can tell you that. I remember hearing the name, quite well, from a friend of his at the signal station. Baynes is not in a ship at all. He is employed ashore here, if I am not mistaken, in one of the searchlight parties."

"If that is the case we shall be able to find him very easily, and you shall certainly see him this evening. I will have him sent here quite soon. He will be greatly flattered to be invited to talk over old times with you, I am sure."

"Thank you, sir; thank you very much, indeed."

The emphatic tone of relief in Netta's words of thanks causes Norah to wonder greatly. Can this so strongly-desired meeting with Baynes have anything to do with the plan which Netta was about to unfold when she was interrupted?

Admiral Darlington rises to take his leave, bidding a cheery good night to the two pretty girls with whom, no doubt, he would very much like to stay and chat for the rest of the evening; for he has a soft heart for the ladies, especially the pretty ones, has this gallant officer.

Outside the door he gives one last injunction to Mrs. Shaw:

"If possible, I wish to keep from them all knowledge of the _Marathon's_ loss until to-morrow. There is no occasion for them to be caused needless distress; so be careful not to let slip any hint of it, Mrs. Shaw, won't you?"

"You needn't tell me that, admiral," she answers snappily. "It isn't from me that they are likely to get anything to worry them."

And with this Parthian shot she retreats within the hut.

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