d," says I.

"Someone must have sent you word then," says Vee, impish.

"Uh-huh," says I. "Someone mighty special too. Sweet of her, wa'n't
it?"

"Oh! A girl?" asks Mabel, perkin' up.

"_The_ girl," says I.

"Tee-hee!" snickers Mabel, nudgin' Vee delighted. "Is--is she very
nice, William? Tell us about her, won't you?"

"Oh, do!" says Vee, sarcastic.

"Well," says I, lookin' at Vee, "she's about your height and build."

"How interesting!" says Mabel, with another nudge. "Go on. What kind
of hair?"

"Never was any like it," says I.

"But her complexion," insists Mabel, "dark or fair?"

"Pink roses in the mornin', with the dew on," says I.

"Bravo!" says Mabel, clappin' her hands. "And her eyes?"

"Why," says I, "maybe you've looked down into deep sea water on a
still, gray day? That's it."

"She must be a beauty," says Mabel.

"Nothing but," says I.

"I hope she has a nice disposition too," says she.

"Nope," says I, shakin' my head solemn.

"Humph! What's the matter with that?" says Vee.

"Jumpy," says I. "Red pepper and powdered sugar; sometimes all sugar,
sometimes all pepper, then again a mixture. You never can tell."

"Then I'd throw her over," says Vee.

"Honest, would you?" says I, lookin' her square in the eye.

"If I didn't like her disposition, I would," says she.

"But that's the best part of her to me," says I. "Adds variety, you
know, and--well, I expect it's about the only way I'm like her. Mine
is apt to be that way too."

"Why, of course," comes in Mabel. "If she was as pretty as all that,
and angelic too----"

"You got the idea," says I. "She'd be in a stained glass window
somewhere, eh?"

"You're a silly boy!" says Vee.

"That sounds natural," says I. "I often get that from her."

"And is she living up here?" asks Mabel. "Visiting," says I. "She's
with her----"

"William," breaks in Vee, "I think Mr. Hollister wants you."

I'd most forgot about Payne; for, while he's only a few feet off, he's
as much out of the group as if he was ashore. You know how it is in
one of them high-powered launches with the engine runnin'. You can't
hear a word unless you're right close to. And Payne's twistin' around
restless.

"Yes, Sir?" says I, goin' up and reportin'.

"Ask Miss Verona if she doesn't want to come up here," says he. "I--I
think it will trim the boat better."

"Sure," says I. But when I passes the word to Vee I translates. "Mr.
Hollister'