wind there was, and a following sea, with which,
as it plunged down the long slopes of the waves, the vessel seemed to be
running a victorious race. The sea was a deep sapphire, and in the wake
the sunlight turned the broken water to vivid emerald. The air was of a
caressing softness, and altogether it was a day and scene of
indescribable beauty and inspiration. For a while there was silence
between them, which John broke at last.

"I suppose," he said, "that one would best show his appreciation of all
this by refraining from the comment which must needs be comparatively
commonplace, but really this is so superb that I must express some of my
emotion even at the risk of lowering your opinion of my good taste,
provided, of course, that you have one."

"Well," she said, laughing, "it may relieve your mind, if you care, to
know that had you kept silent an instant longer I should have taken the
risk of lowering your opinion of my good taste, provided, of course,
that you have one, by remarking that this was perfectly magnificent."

"I should think that this would be the sort of day to get Mr. Carling
on deck. This air and sun would brace him up," said John.

She turned to him with a laugh, and said: "That is the general opinion,
or was two hours ago; but I'm afraid it's out of the question now,
unless we can manage it after luncheon."

"What do you mean?" he asked with a puzzled smile at the mixture of
annoyance and amusement visible in her face. "Same old story?"

"Yes," she replied, "same old story. When I went to my breakfast I
called at my sister's room and said, '"Come, boys and girls, come out to
play, the sun doth shine as bright as day," and when I've had my
breakfast I'm coming to lug you both on deck. It's a perfectly glorious
morning, and it will do you both no end of good after being shut up so
long.' 'All right,' my sister answered, 'Julius has quite made up his
mind to go up as soon as he is dressed. You call for us in half an hour,
and we will be ready.'"

"And wouldn't he come?" John asked; "and why not?"

"Oh," she exclaimed with a laugh and a shrug of her shoulders, "shoes."

"Shoes!" said John. "What do you mean?"

"Just what I say," was the rejoinder. "When I went back to the room I
found my brother-in-law sitting on the edge of the lounge, or what you
call it, all dressed but his coat, rubbing his chin between his finger
and thumb, and gazing with despairing perplexity at his feet. It seems