of those who slide along with the days.

Take the goods the gods provide thee:
The lovely Thais sits beside thee--

was a couplet that he was fond of humming, and he always waited for
some unnatural wrench to make the effort he should have made himself.
But he had consented at last to the return, because while he was still
floating in Southern waters, under Southern skies, with this delicious
voice in his ears, this delicious beauty by his side, he could not
think that a week's sailing must bring him under other conditions.

Perhaps, though, it would be more than a week's sailing, some one
said, for the fair wind that had taken them hither and yon so long,
and had waited on their fancies, was apparently on the point of
deserting them at last, and the yacht was merely drifting before a
fitful breeze that lightly moved a scud of low clouds which the sunset
had kindled into a blaze of glory hanging just above them, and whose
ragged shreds only now and then displayed a star.

"We are going to have nasty weather," the sailing-master said to his
mate. "The barometer is going down with a rush."

"Yes, sir," had come the answer: "we shall catch it in the mid-watch."

"Then stow the light sails, Mr. Mason," the captain said, "and get
everything secure for a heavy blow. Keep a sharp lookout, and call me
as soon as the weather changes."

"All right, sir."

"I am going down for forty winks," said the captain. Then as he passed
Mr. Reyburn: "I don't much like the appearance of things, sir."

"Appearance?" said Reyburn. "Why the sea is as smooth as glass!"

"Too smooth by half, sir, with the barometer falling. I've sailed with
that glass a long time, and she's never told me a lie yet. We've
already shortened sail."

"So I see. But why in the world did you do it, when you want every
stitch of it out to catch what wind there is? However, I am in no
hurry," said Reyburn laughing. "Do as you please, skipper: you're
sailing the ship."

"I am sailing her, sir," said the captain, a little nettled, "and
sailing her on the edge of a hurricane. You had better take the lady
below, sir: when it comes it will come with a crack." But Reyburn
laughed at him again, and passed over to Helen's side.

They sat together on the deck, Helen and Reyburn, long after all the
others had gone to rest; for Mr. Sterling left the arrangement of
etiquette and decorum to Lilian's mother; and whether she were a
purblind soul, looking delightedly