"And if I refuse to tell him what you ask me to?" Corinna burst out angrily.
"Then the rest of us will go," said Dordess instantly. "Our minds are made up as to that."
"A strike of the brotherhood!" cried Evan mockingly.
Corinna kept her head down, and traced a pattern with the toe of her slipper.
Evan became anxious at her silence. "Let them go!" he cried. "I'll undertake to fill their places before the next trip."
To his astonishment all six men laughed scornfully. Surely there was something going on here that he did not know. He scowled.
Finally Corinna raised her head. She ignored Evan's offer. She appeared to be looking at him, but her eyes did not quite meet his. "I am sorry to appear ungenerous and ungrateful," she said like a child repeating a lesson, "but it is true, as Mr. Dordess says, notwithstanding your brave conduct to-day, it will be impossible for us to have you with us in future."
The six men triumphed. In the faces of the weaker ones it showed offensively; the stronger hid it, but Evan was none the less conscious of it. His self-love suffered a ghastly wound.
Dordess relentlessly resumed: "We wish to be courteous, but there must be no misunderstanding. Please tell him that if in spite of this friendly warning he persists in forcing himself on board, you will authorise us to put him ashore."
A flash from under Corinna's lowered lids suggested that Dordess would have to pay for this later on; nevertheless she repeated tonelessly: "If in spite of this friendly warning you persist in forcing yourself on board I will have to authorize them to put you ashore."
Evan stared at her in angry incredulity. He simply could not take in the fact that she was putting so public an affront on him.
Dordess could no longer make believe to hide his real feelings. He went on, sneering: "Tell him further that if he continues to force his unwelcome attentions on you, you will feel justified in appealing to us to protect you."
Corinna repeated: "If you continue to force your attentions on me, I shall be obliged to appeal to these gentlemen to protect me."
Evan suddenly went cold. His lip curled. He told himself she had killed his love dead, and he didn't give a damn anyhow. He bowed to her.
