"
From his seat Jeff could see the cousins at the other end of the
room. They were seated near the head of the captain's table, and
that officer was paying particular attention to them, perhaps
because the _Bellingham_ happened to be one of a line of boats
owned by Joe Powers, perhaps because both of them were very
attractive young women. They were types entirely outside Farnum's
very limited experience. The indolence, the sheathed perfection,
the soft sensuous allure of the young widow seemed to Jeff a
product largely of her father's wealth. But the charm of her
cousin, with its sweet and mocking smile, its note of youthful
austerity, was born of the fine and gallant spirit in her.
Beauchamp sat beside Miss Frome and the editor observed that they
were having a delightful time. He wondered what they could be
talking about. What did a man say to bring such a glow and sparkle
of life into a girl's face? It came to him with a wistful regret
for his stolen youth that never yet had he sat beside a young
woman at dinner and entertained her in the gay adequate manner of
Lieutenant Beauchamp. James could do it, had done it a hundred
times. But he had been sold too long to an urgent world of battle
ever to know such delights.
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