rs.
Cliff's yacht, and if he had not had this subject to talk about, and
plan about, and to go at all hours to see Mrs. Cliff about, it is likely
that he would have been absolutely obliged to leave Plainton for want of
occupation. But the idea of commanding a steam yacht was attraction
enough to keep him where he could continually consider it.

He assured Mrs. Cliff that it was not at all necessary to wait until
pleasant weather before undertaking this great enterprise. As soon as
the harbors were reasonably free of ice it would be well for him to go
and look at yachts, and then when he found one which suited him, Mrs.
Cliff could go and look at it, and if it suited her, it could be
immediately put into commission. They could steam down into southern
waters, and cruise about there. The spring up here in the north was more
disagreeable than any other season of the year, and why should they not
go and spend that season in the tranquil and beautiful waters of Florida
or the West Indies?

Mrs. Cliff had now fully determined to become the owner of a yacht, but
she would not do so unless she saw her way clear to carry out the
benevolent features of the plan which Mr. Burke had suggested.

"What I want," said Mrs. Cliff, "is to have the whole thing understood!
I am perfectly willing to spend some of the pleasant months sailing
about the coast and feeling that I'm giving health and pleasure to poor
and deserving people, especially children, but I am not willing to
consider myself a rich woman who keeps an expensive yacht just for the
pleasure of cruising around when she feels like it! But I do like the
plan of giving country weeks at sea."

"Very good, madam," he said, "and we can fix that thing so that nobody
can possibly make any mistake about it. What do you say to calling your
yacht the _Summer Shelter_? We'll paint the name in white letters on the
bows and stern, and nobody can take us for idle sea-loafers with more
money than we know what to do with!"

"I like that!" said Mrs. Cliff, her face brightening. "You may buy me a
yacht as soon as you please, and we'll call her the _Summer Shelter_!"

In consequence of this order, Mr. Burke departed from Plainton the next
day, and began a series of expeditions to the seaport towns on the
Atlantic coast in search of a steam yacht for sale.

The winter grew colder, and the weather was very bad; there were heavy
snows and drifts, and many hardships. There were cases of privat