he was taking advantage of the breeze, and shaping a
somewhat more westerly course than he had first proposed, so that he
did not expect to make the English coast much before three or four
o'clock in the afternoon, I went below to refresh myself after the
laborious undertaking of the night.

On quitting my berth I found the boy Bobby laying the cloth for
breakfast, and Grace seated on a locker watching him. Her face was
pale, but its expression was without uneasiness. She had put on her
hat, and on seeing me exclaimed:

"Herbert, dear, take me on deck. The fresh air may revive me," and she
looked at the boy and the cloth he was laying with a pout full of
meaning.

I at once took her by the hand and conducted her through the hatch.
She passed her arm through mine to balance herself, and then sent her
eyes bright with nervousness and astonishment round the sea, breathing
swiftly.

"Where is the land?" she asked.

"Behind the ocean, my love. But we shall be having a view of the right
side of these waters presently."

"What a little boat!" she exclaimed, running her gaze over the yacht.
"Is it not dangerous to be in so small a vessel out of sight of land?"

"Bless your dear heart, no. Think of the early navigators! Of course
mam'selle taught you all about the early navigators?"

"When shall we reach Penzance?"

"Supposing the wind to blow fair and briskly, in three or four days."

"Three or four days!" she exclaimed, and glancing down at herself, she
added, "Of course you know, Herbert, that I have only the dress I am
wearing?"

"It will last you till we get ashore," said I, laughing; "and then you
shall buy everything you want, which, of course, will be more than you
want."

"I shall send," said she, "to Mam'selle Championet for my boxes."

"Certainly--when we are married."

"All your presents, particularly the darling little watch, are in those
boxes, Herbert."

"Everything shall be recovered to the uttermost ha'porth, my pet."

I observed Caudel, who stood a little forward of the companion, gazing
at her with an expression of shyness and admiration. I told her that
he was the captain of the yacht; that he was the man I had introduced
to her last night, and begged her to speak to him. She coloured a rose
red, but bade him good-morning nevertheless, accompanying the words
with an inclination of her form, the graceful and easy dignity of which
somehow made me think of the movement of a bough hea