oss from
me, but no misfortune, no matter how dire or dreadful, could bridle
their tongues, so that was to be expected."

"That sounds very much like a libel to me," said Dorothy, laughing.

"Well, you're my niece, and I can libel you if I wish," was the
spirited response.

"But Molly isn't your niece, auntie."

"Never mind; she insists on keeping company with you. Under those
circumstances she must expect to take home to herself most of the
things I say about you."

"I'm not worried," said Molly. "I suppose we are all you say we are,
and more, Mrs. Calvert."

"That's a charitable view to take of it," said Dr. Sterling.

The engines were working so well that before they realized it the
_Nautilus_ was lying snugly moored to her wharf in the North River.

Mr. Ronald's guests bade him good-by and left the boat, after making
him promise to be at Dorothy's concert in the evening.

At the hotel, early as was the hour, Dorothy found Herr Deichenberg
and Mr. Ludlow in conference over her continued absence.

"My goodness! My goodness!" cried the music master. "Would you drive
us crazy, Miss Dorothy, that you stay avay all night and make us
believe you are lost in the storm?"

"I did not make you believe anything, Herr Deichenberg. You took that
upon yourself. And perhaps I was lost in the storm, sir," replied the
girl, then extended her hand to Mr. Ludlow.

"I forgive you, Miss Calvert, and trust you have not so impaired your
faculties that your work will fall below its usual standard
to-night," said the manager.

"I have not, I assure you. We were very comfortable in the berths,
and put in some good time sleeping between midnight and morning.
Molly will tell you that we have no reason for feeling badly."

"Indeed, no, and Dorothy will be in perfect trim, Mr. Ludlow."

"Your assurance makes my mind perfectly easy," was his reply.

"But vhy didn't you let us know?" Herr Deichenberg asked excitedly.
"Vhy? Vhy?"

"Because the yacht was not equipped with a wireless apparatus, I
suppose," Jim Barlow put in, rather testily. "She has done the best
she knew how, sir, and that's all anyone can do."

"Truly spoken, my boy," replied the Herr, laying a kindly hand on his
shoulder. "You must not mind me; I am a little nervous--dat iss all."

"The nervousness will pass away now the truant has returned," Aunt
Betty assured him.

Frau Deichenberg, who approached at that moment, nodded, smiling:

"Ah, madame, dat iss t