‘It no longer comes out,’ I answered. ‘Were the eyebrow to grow I should look less unsightly. I should be able to make my appearance without a veil.’
‘Do not trouble yoursel’ about your appearance,’ he growled.
‘But tell me, Mr. McEwan, what you think of Miss Lee’s case?’
‘Are ye asking the question for Mrs. Lee?’
‘I am asking the question for myself. Alice Lee has taught me to love her. She is a sister to me. Whilst she lives I am not alone.’
He looked at me gravely and said, ‘What d’ye think yoursel’?’
‘Oh, I do not know. Often I hope....’
He eyed me for a few minutes without speech; then, with a wooden face and a stolid shake of his head, turned upon his heel and walked out.
I dressed myself for the deck and entered the saloon. The interior was shadowed by awnings spread above, and it was as empty as though the ship were in port. Through the open skylights came the sound of people laughing and talking on deck. The motion of the ship was very quiet, and the atmosphere warm, as though the breath of the tropics was already in the gushing of the wind. I entered the Lees’ cabin, and found the mother and daughter waiting for me. Alice was warmly wrapped, and a green veil was pinned round her straw hat. Mrs. Lee apologised for sending for me. ‘It was Alice’s wish,’ she said. I saw a smile upon the girl’s face through her veil as she put her hand into my arm, and the three of us went on deck.
A richer morning could not be imagined. There was not a cloud to be seen, and the sky was a dark, deeply pure blue, like an English autumn sky. A soft warm wind was blowing over the right-hand side of the ship, and when I first breathed it I seemed to taste a flavour of oranges and bananas, as though it came from some adjacent land, sweet-smelling with sunny fruit. At the distance of about a mile was a large black steamer. She was passing us on the homeward track, and there was a string of gaudy colours flying from her masthead, and on lifting up my eyes to our own ship I saw such another string of colours flying from the peak as it is called. The steamer looked very stately under the sun, and was as lustrous as though she were built of burnished metal. Points of white fire burnt all over her, and her yellow masts were like thin pillars of gold streaked with dazzling yellow light.