jor apologises for the way he
spoke, I'm quite ready--"

"He doesn't actually apologise," said Meldon. "You can hardly expect
that of him. I think myself he's going as far as can reasonably be
expected of him when he asks you out for a day's yachting. Very few
men would do as much; and I may say to you, Simpkins, that if you'd
been in church to-day and heard my sermon, you wouldn't be inclined now
to stand out for an apology. You would, in fact, most likely be
looking out for an olive leaf and a dove of your own to carry to the
Major."

"But he was entirely in the wrong about the fishing. I admitted all
along that he was perfectly entitled to fish below the bridge, but he
insisted---"

"Quite so," said Meldon. "That's my exact point. Any fool can
apologise when he's been in the right. That gives him such a
comfortable sense of superiority that he doesn't a bit mind grovelling
before the other fellow. What is totally impossible is to apologise
when you're in the wrong. You must be able to realise that."

"I'm not at all sure," said Simpkins, "that I ought to accept the
invitation. Major Kent's hostility to me has been most marked.
Everybody about the place has noticed it."

"Unless you're perfectly sure that you ought not to accept the
invitation," said Meldon, "I think you'd better give yourself the
benefit of the doubt. It will be a most enjoyable expedition. Miss
King is coming. By the way, I hope you haven't quarrelled with Miss
King in any way?"

"No, I haven't. Why should I?"

"I'm glad to hear it, I was afraid perhaps you and she might have
fallen out over something. But if you haven't, why didn't you go near
her for the last two days?"

"I was there on Thursday afternoon. I can't with any decency call on
her every day in the week."

"Oh yes, you can; and, if you mean to marry her, you ought to. Believe
me, there's nothing estranges a woman's affection so rapidly as that
kind of studied neglect. She can't call on you, you know, without
putting herself in a wholly false position."

"I haven't quite made up my mind about marrying her."

"Oh, well, the day in the _Spindrift_ will do that for you. There's
something very exhilarating, Simpkins, about a fresh sea breeze. It
simply sweeps away all hesitation, and renders you capable of marrying
almost any one. That's the reason why sailors are famous for having a
wife in every port they call at, and why nobody blames them for it.
Exp