me in a few minutes, and Lancy followed Dexie into the
house, saying:

"I must have the story from your lips before I leave you to-night, Dexie."

"Very well; but remember it is long past tea-time, and I am almost
famished."

The family had become very much alarmed at Dexie's prolonged absence, and
Mr. Sherwood had gone out to inquire if any accident had been reported on
the water. As Dexie entered the sitting-room, Gussie looked up in
surprise, as she saw who was Dexie's companion; she expected it would be
Hugh, and it was easy to see that she was not in the best of tempers.

"It is time you were home, miss," was her caustic remark. "It is a wonder
you are not ashamed of yourself to stay out till this hour! Just you wait
till papa comes home--he has been almost wild with fright; and you have
given mamma one of her nervous headaches, and she is quite ill; so you know
just what you may expect from her."

Dexie made no answer, but moved briskly from sideboard to closet,
collecting her supper.

"It would have been better for you if you had come home at the proper time
to your supper, instead of keeping us waiting for you, as you did," and a
torrent of complaints and reproaches were poured out, regardless of Lancy's
presence, till he was moved to reply:

"I think, Gussie, if you knew the cause of her detention, and how much she
has borne because of it, you would not say another unkind word to her
to-night."

"Oh, never mind her, Lancy," said Dexie; "honestly, I rather enjoy it. I
was so afraid this afternoon that I should never hear her scold me again
that I can bear all she has to say as meekly as a lamb."

Gussie looked up in astonishment, then dropped her eyes for very shame.

"What has happened? Were you capsized? Is Hugh drowned?" she asked in
alarm, noticing for the first time how sober they looked.

Her unceremonious exit from the boat had put her out of temper. She felt
angry and mortified when she remembered how glad Hugh seemed to be to get
rid of her. Was the day to end in a tragedy?

Where was Hugh, sure enough?

After leaving Dexie, he rowed across the harbor to some small fishing-boats
that were riding at anchor, and tried to hire the occupants of one of them
to accompany him to the vessel. But the story he told them seemed so
improbable they would pay no attention to him for some time. Hugh was
almost beside himself with fear on Dexie's account; but he at last
succeeded in persuading a crafty o