In a Steamer Chair | Page 7

not say any more. I do not know just how
to express it."
"I think you express it very nicely. Go on, please."
"Oh, you are laughing at me now."
"Not at all, I assure you. You were trying to say that I was very
dictatorial."
"No, I was trying to say nothing of the kind. I was merely trying to say
that you have a certain confidence in yourself and a certain belief that
everything you say is perfectly correct, and is not to be questioned.
Now, do as you promised, and tell me how near right I am."
"You are entirely wrong. I never taught school."
"Well, Miss Earle, I confessed to my occupation without citing any
mitigating circumstances. So now, would you think me impertinent if I
asked you to be equally frank?"
"Oh, not at all! But I may say at once that I wouldn't answer you."

"But you will tell me if I guess?"
"Yes, I promise that."
"Well, I am certainly right in saying that you are crossing the ocean for
pleasure."
"No, you are entirely wrong. I am crossing for business."
"Then, perhaps you cross very often, too?"
"No; I crossed only once before, and that was coming the other way."
"Really, this is very mysterious. When are you coming back?"
"I am not coming back."
"Oh, well," said Morris, "I give it up. I think I have scored the unusual
triumph of managing to be wrong in everything that I have said. Have I
not?"
"I think you have."
"And you refuse to put me right?"
"Certainly."
"I don't think you are quite fair, Miss Earle."
"I don't think I ever claimed to be, Mr. Morris. But I am tired of
walking now. You see, I have been walking the deck for considerably
longer than you have. I think I shall sit down for a while."
"Let me take you to your chair."
Miss Earle smiled. "It would be very little use," she said.
The deck steward was not to be seen, and Morris, diving into a dark
and cluttered-up apartment, in which the chairs were piled, speedily

picked out his own, brought it to where the young lady was standing,
spread it out in its proper position, and said--
"Now let me get you a rug or two."
"You have made a mistake. That is not my chair."
"Oh yes, it is. I looked at the tag. This is your name, is it not?"
"Yes, that is my name; but this is not my chair."
"Well, I beg that you will use it until the owner calls for it."
"But who is the owner? Is this your chair?"
"It was mine until after I smashed up yours."
"Oh, but I cannot accept your chair, Mr. Morris."
"You surely wouldn't refuse to do what you desired, in fact,
commanded, another to do. You know you practically ordered me to
take your chair. Well, I have accepted it. It is going to be put right
to-day. So, you see, you cannot refuse mine."
Miss Earle looked at him for a moment.
"This is hardly what I would call a fair exchange," she said. "My chair
was really a very cheap and flimsy one. This chair is much more
expensive. You see, I know the price of them. I think you are trying to
arrange your revenge, Mr. Morris. I think you want to bring things
about so that I shall have to apologise to you in relation to that
chair-breaking incident. However, I see that this chair is very
comfortable, so I will take it. Wait a moment till I get my rugs."
"No, no," cried Morris, "tell me where you left them. I will get them for
you."
"Thank you. I left them on the seat at the head of the companion-way.
One is red, the other is more variegated; I cannot describe it, but they

are the only two rugs there, I think."
A moment afterwards the young man appeared with the rugs on his arm,
and arranged them around the young lady after the manner of deck
stewards and gallant young men who are in the habit of crossing the
ocean.
"Would you like to have a cup of coffee?"
"I would, if it can be had."
"Well, I will let you into a shipboard secret. Every morning on this
vessel the smoking-room steward brings up a pot of very delicious
coffee, which he leaves on the table of the smoking-room. He also
brings a few biscuits--not the biscuit of American fame, but the biscuit
of English manufacture, the cracker, as we call it--and those who
frequent the smoking-room are in the habit sometimes of rising early,
and, after a walk on deck, pouring out a cup of coffee for themselves."
"But I