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fallen far short of her dreams of success. She had a curious shyness about singing to people, and especially to strangers, and no one on board the “Suez” even suspected this talent hidden under her shabby dresses and unfinished manner.

Now she sat perfectly still, her lips slightly parted, and the look of restrained strength and power still lighting up her face. The passengers were really enchanted. They had been carried far away from the narrow deck and the dull Sunday evening on the wings of music, and they fervently blessed and thanked the musician for this hour of pleasure. Only Lady May was heard to observe, “Not the first time she has played in public, or I am much mistaken.” Arthur Campbell, to whom this remark was addressed, merely shook his head in silence. Perhaps he intended to agree with the condemnatory observation, perhaps he merely wished to lose nothing of the stream of melody which had been flowing over this Sunday evening Sahara. But Alice played no more that evening, and was presently seen walking up and down the deck, and listening with evident appreciation to the conversation of the funny man, who had surpassed himself that day in the festal glory of his enormously-checked waistcoat and the spottiness of his cobalt-blue necktie.