There was, indeed, no reason why she should have singled him out for observation, and she was, in fact, too frequently absorbed in her own reflections to be in the frame of mind to remark her fellow passengers to the extent which was generally customary with her.

During her crossings of the Atlantic she usually made mental observation of the people on board.

This time, when she was not talking to the Worthingtons, or reading, she was thinking of the possibilities of her visit to Stornham.

She used to walk about the deck thinking of them and, sitting in her chair, sum them up as her eyes rested on the rolling and breaking waves.
There were many things to be considered, and one of the first was the perfectly sane suggestion her father had made.
"Suppose she does not want to be rescued?
Suppose you find her a comfortable fine lady who adores her husband." Such a thing was possible, though Bettina did not think it probable.

She intended, however, to prepare herself even for this.