"
He sighed, looked away, and remarked that it was time to put out the lamp
in the saloon. The permission was only till ten o'clock.
"But you needn't mind that so much in your cabin. Just see that the
curtains of the ports are drawn close and that's all. The steward might
have forgotten to do it. He lighted your reading lamp in there before he
went ashore for a last evening with his wife. I don't know if it was
wise to get rid of Mrs. Brown. You will have to look after yourself,
Flora."
He was quite anxious; but Flora as a matter of fact congratulated herself
on the absence of Mrs. Brown. No sooner had she closed the door of her
state-room than she murmured fervently, "Yes! Thank goodness, she is
gone." There would be no gentle knock, followed by her appearance with
her equivocal stare and the intolerable: "Can I do anything for you,
ma'am?" which poor Flora had learned to fear and hate more than any voice
or any words on board that ship--her only refuge from the world which had
no use for her, for her imperfections and for her troubles.
* * * * *
Mrs.
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