The result of their unbounded freedom was that conversation took the place of reading.

Hitherto Margaret had confined Claudius closely to the matter in hand, some instinct warning her that such an intimacy as had existed during his daily visits could only continue on the footing of severe industry she had established from the first.

But the sight of the open deck, the other people constantly moving to and fro, the proper aspect of the lady-companion, just out of earshot, and altogether the appearance of publicity which the sea-life lent to their _tete-a-tete_ hours, brought, as a necessary consequence, a certain unbending.

It always seemed such an easy matter to call some third party into the conversation if it should grow too confidential.

And so, insensibly, Claudius and Margaret wandered into discussions about the feelings, about love, hate, and friendship, and went deep into those topics which so often end in practical experiment.