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Amongst the saloon passengers of the Illimani, ere she was a fortnight out, little Miss Agnew had become quite a pet. 'She was such a dear--so natural, so really chic!' said the ladies; while the men enjoyed to the full her utter or assumed lack of conventionality. She was a fresh-coloured girl of about eighteen, handsome enough, after a robust, dairy-maid fashion, with full red lips, white teeth, and black eyes, under a shock of curly hair, that shrank from no man's gaze.
Miss Agnew had come on board at the very last moment, with an uncle and aunt to see her off; also a note from the owners, commending her to the captain's care. Popularly it was known that she was a rich squatter's daughter, returning home after a long visit to England. Her sole occupation of one of the best berths in the ship, as well as the possession of plenty of spare cash, gave some reason to the rumour of wealth. It was also whispered that she had been expelled from more than one fashionable school. But nobody seemed to think much the worse of her for that.