sleep on board of our boat.

Before I had fully determined in what manner I should detain the cook
on board of the Marian, the boat came alongside. I turned my head away
from the man, so that her need not discover that I was not Mr.
Waterford before he came on board. I opened a conversation with Miss
Collingsby, and appeared to take no notice of the arrival. The negro
was evidently one of the lazy kind, for he did not offer to come on
board.

[Illustration: OLD PETE COMES AFTER INFORMATION. Page 247.]

"How do you do, Mr. Waterford?" said the cook, as he brought his boat
under the quarter of the yacht.

"How do you do?" I replied, in a gruff tone.

"Gorrificious! Don't you know old Peter?" exclaimed the cook,
apparently wounded at my want of recognition of him.

"How are you, old Peter?" I added, coughing violently to disguise my
voice.

"Gorrificious, Mr. Waterford! I reckon you've got a bad cold. I've got
a letter for you from Mr. Whippleton," continued the cook.

"Take it--will you, Marian?" I added, still coughing. "I don't want him
to see me;" and I retreated into the cabin.

"Thank you miss," said Peter, as he delivered the letter. "I'm right
down sorry Mr. Waterford has got such a terrible cough--on his wedding
day, too, miss. Gorrificious, Miss Collingsby! Mr. Waterford is a lucky
gentleman; but he desarves you. He's a fine gentleman--liberal to old
Peter and all the boys."

Marian made no reply to this speech, though, when she appeared in the
cabin, her cheeks and forehead were crimson with confusion.

"Did you hear what old Peter said," she asked.

"I did; and it is plain enough that Mr. Whippleton is in the secret,
and has even told it to his cook."

"If I ever get home again, I shall not disobey my father. To think that
the wretch told Mr. Whippleton all about it beforehand."

"I supposed he had," I replied, as I opened the letter.

"What does he say, Philip?" asked Marian, curiously.

"'Dear Ben'--that's the way he begins. 'How is the fawn?'"

"The fawn?"

"Probably meaning Miss Collingsby," I replied. "'I was afraid Phil
would give you some trouble when I saw you had him on board. But you
fixed him handsomely. I saw him tip over the bow of the boat. If you
hadn't got rid of him, I should have gone ashore and helped you. I'm
glad it's all right. Why didn't you run up the river farther, and
anchor near the Florina? I thought I wouldn't call upon you till I knew
how the fawn was. If sh