That last night before they landed was the most beautiful they had experienced. The azure dome was gemmed with countless stars that were mirrored in the calm sea, the moon shed a bewitching, silvery light on everything, and the air was as soft as in midsummer.
Every one remained on deck till a late hour. They had music and flirting to beguile the time, and Laurier betrayed the fact of Jessie’s talent.
“Oh, why did you not tell us before?” they cried. “Oh, do not refuse to sing for us!”
They had been so kind that she could not well refuse; besides, she loved to sing as the birds love to warble.
She whispered to Laurier:
“I will do my best because they have all been so kind to me, but I fear I shall break down thinking of poor papa and the uncertainty of his fate.”
He tried to cheer her with hopeful words:
“Look on the bright side; your father may have been saved just as we were, and you may soon be reunited.”
“I fear not. He had a presentiment of death, I believe, for he sent messages as from the dying to his friends in New York,” she sighed.
“Still, I would not give up hope. Many people have been known to survive terrible accidents,” he replied, and she wondered if he was thinking of all that had happened to him and Cora.