“Aren’t you mixing things up? What do you call public?”
“Why the way they go on. They’re up there now.”
“They cuddle up there half the night,” said Mrs. Gotch. “I don’t know when they come down. Any hour they like. When all the lights are out they’re up there still.”
“Oh you can’t tire them out. They don’t want relief—like the ship’s watch!” laughed one of the gentlemen.
“Well, if they enjoy each other’s society what’s the harm?” another asked. “They’d do just the same on land.”
“They wouldn’t do it on the public streets, I presume,” said Mrs. Peck. “And they wouldn’t do it if Mr. Porterfield was round!”
“Isn’t that just where your confusion comes in?” I made answer. “It’s public enough that Miss Mavis and Mr. Nettlepoint are always together, but it isn’t in the least public that she’s going to be married.”
“Why how can you say—when the very sailors know it! The Captain knows it and all the officers know it. They see them there, especially at night, when they’re sailing the ship.”
“I thought there was some rule—!” submitted Mrs. Gotch.
“Well, there is—that you’ve got to behave yourself,” Mrs. Peck explained. “So the Captain told me—he said they have some rule. He said they have to have, when people are too undignified.”