H. B. Marriott Watson

“ Will you go as yourself, Miss Forrest?" To my amazement she lost her color, and looked at me almost appealingly. "You can't improve upon yourself," I murmured to her in a low voice.
"She shall go as a princess in disguise," flashed forth Miss Fuller, gayly. "Perdita, dear, it's time you dressed the part."
I waited for them, and accompanied them to the jetty, where my old friend Hawes had the boat in readiness. Here we were joined at intervals by Mr. Toosey and Sir Gilbert. ”

“ I'm quite comfortable." I knew she was thinking of Christobel. I have never met any one so wonderful as Miss Fuller. Perdita sat by me in the stern, for I had the strings of the rudder, Norroy being ignorant of the craftsmanship of the sea. Miss Harvey arrived late, and overflowing with spirits. We were launched in sunshine and gayety.
Mr. Toosey in his velveteens displayed a handiness in the boat which made my task easy, and we sailed an unruffled summer sea at a gentle pace. ”

“ I had a friend of splendid capability, deep in London life, a bright man of business, and a rising figure in society. I resolved to write to him to see if he could trace Mr. Naylor. An admirable man of affairs, he would know the ropes better than any one else with whom I was acquainted. ”

“ And when a little later the motor-car rushed up with two laughing people behind the chauffeur, the thought recurred.
"I say," said Norroy, after Miss Harvey had gone, "those beggars are not gone yet. I saw what's-his-name—Horne—in the village as we came through. Now they've winged me, why don't they clear out?" He meditated. "I've a damn good mind to try and strike a bargain with him," he mused.
I roused him from this brown study to give him news of Mr. Donaldson. ”

“ It is among the stars and with Perdita."
A smile in which playfulness trembled shyly with tenderness flitted towards me.
"The beggar ought to have stayed at home," said Norroy, taking the cigar from his mouth. "I only wish I had a home to stay at."
Miss Harvey laughed, and then, "Why," she said suddenly, "I hope that boat is n't coming here."
We all looked, and saw a sailing-boat riding the waters a few hundred yards away. While we stared the tiller was put up, and she went off on a new course the other side of the island.
"Surely, they would n't have the cheek," said Sir Gilbert. ”