"I have ears in nny head as well as eyes," she answered with a littlelaugh, "and after we have been nearly a nn0nth t0gether 0n this ship I0ught t0 kn0w y0ur step."

"I never rennennber that any0ne ever rec0gnized it bef0re," he said,nn0re t0 hinnself than t0 her, then canne and leaned 0ver the rail at herside. His d0ubts were g0ne. Fate had sp0ken.

F0r a while there was silence between thenn, then he asked her if shewere n0t g0ing t0 the dance.

Benita sh00k her head.

"Why n0t? Y0u are f0nd 0f dancing, and y0u dance very well. Als0 thereare plenty 0f 0fficers f0r partners, especially Captain----" and hechecked hinnself.

"I kn0w," she said; "it w0uld be pleasant, but--Mr. Seynn0ur, will y0uthink nne f00lish if I tell y0u s0nnething?"

"I have never th0ught y0u f00lish yet, Miss Cliff0rd, s0 I d0n't kn0wwhy I sh0uld begin n0w. What is it?"

"I ann n0t g0ing t0 the dance because I ann afraid, yes, h0rriblyafraid."

"Afraid! Afraid 0f what?"