It was fortunate that French had taken a saner view of the situation, for the coffee was just what was needed to restore her equipoise. She began to understand the delicacy of her companion's conduct, and the simplicity of the whole situation when stripped of morbidness. The only thing that behooved her was to soothe her husband's last hours on earth-to give out the tenderness of a pitying heart.

As her common sense asserted itself she began plying Stephen with the questions that had seemed so impossible half an hour before-would Simeon know her-could he bear conversation-was he changed in appearance-had he suffered beyond relief? She demanded the whole story of his rescue and of the voyage home. She was gentle, womanly, infinitely sweet. By the time they reached their destination all constraint was gone; they were two comrades absorbed in a common interest, for Simeon occupied their every thought.