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Falk possessed in himself all the qualities to make
his niece's future prosperous。 He said he was glad
to hear this； and that he would tell his wife。 Then
the object of the visit came out。 He wished me to
help him to resume relations with Falk。 His niece；
he said； had expressed the hope I would do so in my
kindness。 He was evidently anxious that I should；
for though he seemed to have forgotten nine…tenths
of his last night's opinions and the whole of his in…
dignation； yet he evidently feared to be sent to the
right…about。 〃You told me he was very much in
love；〃 he concluded slyly； and leered in a sort of bu…
colic way。
〃As soon as he had left my ship I called Falk on
board by signalthe tug still lying at the anchor…
age。 He took the news with calm gravity； as
though he had all along expected the stars to fight
for him in their courses。
I saw them once more together； and only once
on the quarter…deck of the Diana。 Hermann sat
smoking with a shirt…sleeved elbow hooked over the
back of his chair。 Mrs。 Hermann was sewing
alone。 As Falk stepped over the gangway； Her…
mann's niece； with a slight swish of the skirt and a
swift friendly nod to me； glided past my chair。
They met in sunshine abreast of the mainmast。
He held her hands and looked down at them； and
she looked up at him with her candid and unseeing
glance。 It seemed to me they had come together
as if attracted； drawn and guided to each other by
a mysterious influence。 They were a complete
couple。 In her grey frock； palpitating with life；
generous of form； olympian and simple； she was in…
deed the siren to fascinate that dark navigator； this
ruthless lover of the five senses。 From afar I
seemed to feel the masculine strength with which
he grasped those hands she had extended to him
with a womanly swiftness。 Lena； a little pale；
nursing her beloved lump of dirty rags； ran to…
wards her big friend； and then in the drowsy si…
lence of the good old ship Mrs。 Hermann's voice
rang out so changed that it made me spin round in
my chair to see what was the matter。
〃Lena； come here！〃 she screamed。 And this
good…natured matron gave me a wavering glance；
dark and full of fearsome distrust。 The child ran
back； surprised to her knee。 But the two； stand…
ing before each other in sunlight with clasped
hands； had heard nothing； had seen nothing and
no one。 Three feet away from them in the shade
a seaman sat on a spar； very busy splicing a strop；
and dipping his fingers into a tar…pot； as if utterly
unaware of their existence。
When I returned in command of another ship；
some five years afterwards； Mr。 and Mrs。 Falk
had left the place。 I should not wonder if Schom…
berg's tongue had succeeded at last in scaring Falk
away for good； and； indubitably； there was a tale
still going about the town of a certain Falk； owner
of a tug； who had won his wife at cards from the
captain of an English ship。
THE END