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THE STORY SO FAR: 

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FORTY SECONDS 

The S.S. Aquitania, queen of the Atlantic, riding easily at her pier, was about to leave on her five day trip to Southampton.  The deep bass voiced siren gave a prolonged blast, ropes were loosened, and the giant plank was slowly raising its huge bulk, when suddenly a beautiful young woman of trim athletic build, swept madly past the astonished dock officers.  Without hesitation, she ran up the swinging gang plank--poised herself--and made a death-defying leap to the deck of the ship, landing squarely in the arm of Second Mate Remus Alden.
    Later, after beign severely reprimanded by the Captain, by Alden and Dr. Rawlins, the ship's physician, the young lady, Miss Compton, becomes intensely interested in Second Mate Alden, who had saved her life.  Alden flattered, reciprocates, but Dr. Rawlins, sensing future trouble, tries unsuccessfully to break the attachment. 
    On the third day out, as the ship was headed into a rising sea, Dr Rawlins, on the upper deck, discovers Miss Compton and Alden in animated conversation near the rail.  Alden, having lost all conception of time, is fifteen minutes late in taking his turn on the bridge.  Dr. Rawlins rebukes him for breaking the iron clad rule of the sea, and is in turn, rebuked by Miss Compton for interfering.
    At about tea-time on the fourth day, Dr. Rawlins is on his way to attend a sick passenger, and in passing down the starboard alleyway, suddenly comes face to face with the Second Mate, hurriedly leaving Miss Compton's cabin.
    Dr.  Rawlins angrily orders Alden to his cabin, and a moment later, steps into Miss Compton's cabin, closing the door behind him.  

--NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY. 

"GO to your cabin this instant, Mr Alden!"  I repeated.  There was somethig in my voice which daunted him, for after a moment he lowered his defiant eyes, glanced at the four gold rings on my sleeve, and sullenly tramped off.  The alley-way was still deserted.  I stepped quickly into the cabin and shut the door behind me.  It was the sitting room of one of the best suites on the ship.  Miss Compton had half risen from the davenport; she was dressed in a beautiful silk dressing-gown of some very transparent material, and her hasty rising when I entered, caught some part of it on the carving of the davenport, and tore the flimsy stuff half down her shoulder, exposing the creamy flesh of shoulder and bust.  She glared at me with fury and tried to pull the gown about her. 
    "Leave my cabin this moment!  How dare you burst in!" she cried.  Her voice was positively thick with rage, and her face was not pretty to look at.  I would not have believed such a change possible.
   "I am a doctor, madam, and old enough to be your father," I replied harshly; "be good enough to sit down."  
   "I do not need your services, Doctor Rawlins, nor do I wish to say anything to you."
   "There is no doubt about that, Miss Compton, but I intend to say something to you.  I would not have thought you so unused to having a man in your cabin when so lighly attired, ma'am."
    She turned like a flash and pressed the button for the steward.  I sat down on the davenport.  Almost immediately the steward knocked.
    "Come in," she commanded.
     The man entered--old Mills.   Heavens, he had been at sea with me already for over fourteen years.
     "Steward," said Miss Compton, "go to--"
      I interrupted her: "Mills, stand where you are and close the door."
     "Yes sir," he replied instantly, and obeyed.  I turned to the woman.  "Do you wish the steward to listen to what I have to say to you, madam?"
    50

Transcription Notes:
50 - page number