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drawbacks to the enjoyment of a cruise at sea。 It is exceedingly difficult to
get enough walking exercise； and it is next to impossible （where secrecy is
an object） to make love without being found out。 Reverting for the
moment to the latter difficulty only； life within the narrow and populous
limits of a vessel may be defined as essentially life in public。 From
morning to night you are in your neighbor's way； or your neighbor is in
your way。 As a necessary result of these conditions； the rarest of existing
men may be defined as the man who is capable of stealing a kiss at sea
without discovery。 An inbred capacity for stratagem of the finest sort；
inexhaustible inventive resources； patience which can flourish under
superhuman trials； presence of mind which can keep its balance
victoriously under every possible stress of emergencythese are some of
the qualifications which must accompany Love on a cruise； when Love
embarks in the character of a contraband commodity not duly entered on
the papers of the ship。
Having established a Code of Signals which enabled them to
communicate privately； while the eyes and ears of others were wide open
on every side of them； Natalie and Launce were next confronted by the
more serious difficulty of finding a means of meeting together at stolen
interviews on board the yacht。 Possessing none of those precious moral
qualifications already enumerated as the qualifications of an accomplished
lover at sea； Launce had proved unequal to grapple with the obstacles in
his way。 Left to her own inventive resources； Natalie had first suggested
the young surgeon's medical studies as Launce's unanswerable excuse for
shutting himself up at intervals in the lower regions； and had then hit on
the happy idea of tearing her trimmings； and condemning herself to repair
her own carelessness； as the all…sufficient reason for similar acts of self…
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seclusion on her side。 In this way the lovers contrived； while the innocent
ruling authorities were on deck； to meet privately below them； on the
neutral ground of the main cabin； and there； by previous arrangement at
the breakfast…table； they were about to meet privately now。
Natalie's door was； as usual on these occasions； the first that opened；
for this sound reason； that Natalie's quickness was the quickness to be
depended on in case of accident。
She looked up at the sky…light。 There were the legs of the two
gentlemen and the skirts of her aunt visible （and stationary） on the lee side
of the deck。 She advanced a few steps and listened。 There was a pause in
the murmur of the voices above。 She looked up again。 One pair of legs
（not her father's） had disappeared。 Without an instant's hesitation； Natalie
darted back to her own door； just in time to escape Richard Turlington
descending the cabin stairs。 All he did was to go to one of the drawers
under the main…cabin book…case and to take out a map； ascending again
immediately to the deck。 Natalie's guilty conscience rushed instantly；
nevertheless； to the conclusion that Richard suspected her。 When she
showed herself for the second time； instead of venturing into the cabin； she
called across it in a whisper；
〃Launce！〃
Launce appeared at his door。 He was peremptorily checked before he
could cross the threshold。
〃Don't stir a step！ Richard has been down in the cabin！ Richard
suspects us！〃
〃Nonsense！ Come out。〃
〃Nothing will induce me； unless you can find some other place than
the cabin。〃
Some other place？ How easy to find it on land！ How apparently
impossible at sea！ There was the forecastle （full of men） at one end of the
vessel。 There was the sail room （full of sails） at the other。 There was the
ladies' cabin （used as the ladies' dressing…room； inaccessible； in that
capacity； to every male human being on board）。 Was there any disposable
inclosed space to be found amidships？ On one side there were the sleeping
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berths of the sailing…master and his mate （impossible to borrow _them_）。
On the other side was the steward's store…room。 Launce considered for a
moment。 The steward's store…room was just the thing！
〃Where are you going？〃 asked Natalie； as her lover made straight for a
closed door at the lower extremity of the main cabin。
〃To speak to the steward； darling。 Wait one moment； and you will see
me again。〃
Launce opened the store…room door； and discovered； not the steward；
but his wife； who occupied the situation of stewardess on board the vessel。
The accident was； in this case； a lucky one。 Having stolen several kisses at
sea； and having b een discovered （in every case） either by the steward or
his wife； Launce felt no difficulty in prefacing his request to be allowed
the use of the room by the plainest allusion to his relations with Natalie。
He could count on the silence of the sympathizing authorities in this
region of the vessel； having wisely secured them as accomplices by the
usual persuasion of the pecuniary sort。 Of the two； however； the
stewardess； as a woman； was the more likely to lend a ready ear to
Launce's entreaties in his present emergency。 After a faint show of
resistance； she consented； not only to leave the room； but to keep her
husband out of it； on the understanding that it was not to be occupied for
more than ten minutes。 Launce made the signal to Natalie at one door；
while the stewardess went out by the other。 In a moment more the lovers
were united in a private room。 Is it necessary to say in what language the
proceedings were opened？ Surely not！ There is an inarticulate language of
the lips in use on these occasions in which we are all proficient； though we
sometimes forget it in later life。 Natalie seated herself on a locker。 The tea；
sugar； and spices were at her back； a side of bacon swung over her head；
and a net full of lemons dangled before her face。 It might not be roomy；
but it was snug and comfortable。
〃Suppose they cal