the right conclusion, though, as so often happens in American

"He'll be all right in New York," said Gertrude. "There's no place in the world, they say, where the girls put themselves forward so much, and make things so pleasant for the young men." "He will soon find someone there", said Augusta, "with a good deal more to say for herself than Ayala, and a great deal better looking."

"I hope he will find someone who will really love him," said his mother.

Tom sat silent while he listened to all this encouragement, turning his face from one speaker to the other. It was continued, with many other similar promises of coming happiness, and assurances that he had been a gainer in losing all that he had lost, when he suddenly turned sharply upon them, and strongly expressed his feelings to his sisters. "I don't believe that either of you know anything about it," he said.

"Don't know anything about what?" said Augusta, who, as a lady who had been married over twelve months and was soon about to become a mother, felt that she certainly did know all about it. "Why don't we know as well as you?" asked, Gertrude, who had also had her experiences.

"I don't believe you do know anything about it -- that's all," said Tom. "And now there's the cab. Goodbye, mother! Goodbye, Augusta. I hope you'll be all right." This alluded to the baby. "Goodbye, Gertrude. I hope you'll get all right too some day." This alluded to Gertrude's two lovers. Then he left them, and as he got into his cab declared to himself that neither of them had ever, or would ever, know anything of that special trouble which had so nearly overwhelmed himself.

"Upon my word, Tom," said his father, walking about the vessel with him, "I wish I were going to New York myself with you -- it all looks so comfortable."

"Yes," said Tom, "it's very nice."

"You'll enjoy yourself amazingly. There is that Mrs Thompson has two as pretty daughters with her as ever a man wished to see." Tom shook his head. "And you're fond of smoking. Did you see the smoking-room? They've got everything on board these ships now. Upon my word I envy you the voyage."