scrape her sides."

"No; hold on, Don John; I have a cork fender," replied Laud, as he threw
his painter on board of the Maud. "Catch a turn--will you?"

"Don't let him come on board, if you can help it," whispered Nellie
Patterdale. "He is a terrible bore."

"I can help it," replied Donald, as, with a boat-hook he shoved off the
bow of the Juno.

Then, for the first time, he observed that Laud had a passenger, a man
whom he remembered to have seen before, though he did not think where.

"What are you about, Don John?" demanded Laud.

"Keep off, then," replied Donald. "We don't want any visitors on board
yet. We are going to haul her up to the wharf at once."

"But I came off to offer the ladies a passage to the shore," said Laud.

"They don't want any passage to the shore."

"Good morning, Miss Patterdale," added Laud, as Nellie went to the rail
near the Juno. "Allow me to offer you a place in this boat to convey you
to the shore."

"Thank you, Mr. Cavendish; I intend to remain where I am," replied she,
rather haughtily.

"I shall be happy to take you out to sail, if you will do me the honor
to accompany me; and Miss Rodman, too, if she will go."

"No, I thank you; I am otherwise engaged," answered Nellie, as she
retreated to the other side of the yacht.

"I say, Donald, let me come on board," asked Laud, who was desperately
bent upon improving his acquaintance with Nellie Patterdale.

"Not now; you can come on board at the wharf."

Donald was resolute, and Laud, angry at his rebuff, filed away.

"Here is a man that wants to see you, Don John," shouted Laud, as he ran
his boat up to the Maud again.

"I can't see him now," replied Donald.

Kennedy now came alongside in the skiff, bringing a warp-line from the
shore, by which the Maud was hauled up to the wharf. The spectators went
on board, and examined the work. Many of them crawled into the cabin and
cook-room, and all of them were enthusiastic in their praise, though a
few seasoned it with wholesome criticism. Some thought the cabin ought
to be longer, evidently believing that it was possible to put a quart of
water into a pint bottle; others thought she ought to be rigged as a
schooner instead of a sloop, which was a matter of fancy with the owner;
but all agreed that she was a beautiful yacht. In honor of the event,
and to please the young people, Mr. Rodman had prepared a collation at
his house, to which the members of the Yacht Club and other