"Life on board a large passenger-ship, Mr. Tourmalin," she went on to observe, "though relaxed in some respects, is still not without decencies which a gentleman is bound to respect."
"Quite so," said Peter, unable to discover the bearings which lay in the application of this particular observation.
"You say 'Quite so'; but what has your behaviour been, sir?"
"That," said Peter, "is exactly what I should like to know myself!"
"A true gentleman would have considered the responsibility he incurred by giving currency to idle and malicious gossip!"
His apprehensions were correct then: it was one of the young ladies' mothers—but which?
"I can only assure you, madam," he began, "that if unhappily I have—er—been the means of furnishing gossip, it has been entirely unintentional."
She seemed so much mollified by this, that he proceeded with more confidence:
"As to anything I may have said to your daughter——" when she almost bounded from her seat with fury.