ds on board--"

"You will do dreadfully wicked things to them, won't you, little
brother?"

"Humph! Thank God, I'm an American!"

"That's a worthy sentiment, Richard."

"I'd like to give out, as our newspapers say, a signed statement throwing
a challenge to all Europe. I wish we'd get into a real war once so we
could knock the conceit out of one of their so-called first-class powers.
I'd like to lead a regiment right through the most sacred precincts of
London; or take an early morning gallop through Berlin to wake up the
Dutch. All this talk about hands across the sea and such rot makes me
sick. The English are the most benighted and the most conceited and
condescending race on earth; the Germans and Austrians are stale
beer-vats, and the Italians and French are mere decadents and don't
count."

"Yes, dearest," mocked Shirley. "Oh, my large brother, I have a
confession to make. Please don't indulge in great oaths or stamp a hole
in this sturdy deck, but there are flowers in my state-room--"

"Probably from the Liverpool consul--he's been pestering father to help
him get a transfer to a less gloomy hole."

"Then I shall intercede myself with the President when I get home.
They're orchids--from London--but--with Mr. Armitage's card. Wouldn't
that excite you?"

"It makes me sick!" and Dick hung heavily on the rail and glared at a
passing tug.

"They are beautiful orchids. I don't remember when orchids have happened
to me before, Richard--in such quantities. Now, you really didn't
disapprove of him so much, did you? This is probably good-by forever, but
he wasn't so bad; and he may be an American, after all."

"A common adventurer! Such fellows are always turning up, like bad
pennies, or a one-eyed dog. If I should see him again--"

"Yes, Richard, if you should meet again--"

"I'd ask him to be good enough to stop following us about, and if he
persisted I should muss him up."

"Yes; I'm sure you would protect me from his importunities at any
hazard," mocked Shirley, turning and leaning against the rail so that she
looked along the deck beyond her brother's stalwart shoulders.

"Don't be silly," observed Dick, whose eyes were upon a trim yacht that
was steaming slowly beneath them.

"I shan't, but please don't be violent! Do not murder the poor man,
Dickie, dear,"--and she took hold of his arm entreatingly--"for there he
is--as tall and mysterious as ever--and me found guilty with a few of his
orchids pi