I had seen Jasper in the smoking-room
more than once that day, as I passed it, and half an hour before this had
observed, through the open door, that he was there. He had been with her
so much that without him she now struck one as bereaved and forsaken.
This was really better, no doubt, but superficially it moved--and I admit
with the last inconsequence--one's pity. Mrs. Peck would doubtless have
assured me that their separation was gammon: they didn't show together on
deck and in the saloon, but they made it up elsewhere. The secret places
on shipboard are not numerous; Mrs. Peck's "elsewhere" would have been
vague, and I know not what licence her imagination took. It was distinct
that Jasper had fallen off, but of course what had passed between them on
this score wasn't so and could never be. Later on, through his mother, I
had _his_ version of that, but I may remark that I gave it no credit.
Poor Mrs. Nettlepoint, on the other hand, was of course to give it all. I
was almost capable, after the girl had left me, of going to my young man
and saying: "After all, do return to her a little, just till we get in!
It won't make any difference after we land." And I don't think it was
the fear he would tell me I was an idiot that prevented me. At any rate
the next time I passed the door of the smoking-room I saw he had left it.
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