fought
something else in him and conquered. But the something else, if it could
be revived, given new strength, would make a cruise with him, even to
all the old places, quite interesting, Mrs. Shiffney thought. And any
refusal always made her greedy and obstinate. "I _will_ have it!" was
the natural reply of her nature to any "You can't have it!"

She often acted impulsively, hurried by caprices and desires, and that
same evening she sent the following note to Charmian:

GROSVENOR SQUARE,
_Thursday._

DEAR CHARMIAN,--You've never been on the yacht, though
I've always been dying to have you come. I've been glued to London
for quite a time, and am getting sick of it. Aren't you? Always the
same things and people. I feel I must run away if I can get up a
pleasant party to elope with me. Will you be one? I thought of
starting some time next month on _The Wanderer_ for a cruise, to
the Mediterranean or somewhere. I don't know yet who'll tuck in,
but I shall take Susan Fleet to play chaperon to us and the crew
and manage things. Max Elliot may come, and I thought of trying to
get your friend, Mr. Heath, though I hardly know him. I think he
works too hard, and a breeze might do him good. However, it's all
in the air. Tell me what you think about it. Love to the beautiful
mother.--In tearing haste, Yours,
ADELAIDE SHIFFNEY.

"Why has she asked me?" said Charmian to herself, laying this note down
after reading it twice.

She had always known Mrs. Shiffney, but she had never before been asked
to go on a cruise in the yacht. Mrs. Shiffney had always called her
Charmian, as she called Mrs. Mansfield Violet. But there had never been
even a hint of genuine intimacy between the girl and the married woman,
and they seldom met except in society, and then only spoke a few casual
and unmeaning words. They had little in common, Charmian supposed,
except their mutual knowledge of quantities of people and of a certain
social life.

Claude Heath on _The Wanderer_!

Charmian took the note to her mother.

"Mrs. Shiffney has suddenly taken a fancy to me, Madretta," she said.
"Look at this!"

Mrs. Mansfield read the note and gave it back.

"Do you want to go?" she asked, looking at the girl, not without a still
curiosity.