exhibited with some pride a cunning device for the stowage of
soda-water; and he even went the length of explaining to her the
capacities of the linen-chest; but then she could not fail to see that,
in his eagerness to interest and amuse her, he was as garrulous as a
schoolboy showing to his companion a new toy. Miss White sat down in the
saloon; and Macleod, who had but little experience in attending on
ladies, and knew of but one thing that it was proper to recommend,
said,--

"And will you have a cup of tea now, Gertrude? Johnny will get it to you
in a moment."

"No, thank you," said she, with a smile, for she knew not how often he
had offered her a cup of tea since her arrival in the Highlands. "But do
you know, Keith, your yacht has a terrible bachelor look about it? All
the comforts of it are in this saloon and in those two nice little
state-rooms. Your lady's cabin looks very empty; it is too elegant and
fine, as if you were afraid to leave a book or a match-box in it. Now,
if you were to turn this into a lady's yacht; you would have to remove
that pipe-rack, and the guns and rifles and bags."

"Oh," said he, anxiously, "I hope you do not smell any tobacco?"

"Not at all," said she. "It was only a fancy. Of course you are not
likely to turn your yacht into a lady's yacht."

He started and looked at her. But she had spoken quite thoughtlessly,
and had now turned to her father.

When they went on deck again they found that the _Umpire_, beating up in
the face of a light northerly breeze, had run out for a long tack almost
to the Dutchman's Cap; and from a certain distance they could see the
grim shores of this desolate island, with its faint tinge of green grass
over the brown of its plateau of rock. And then Hamish called out,
"Ready, about!" and presently they were slowly leaving behind that
lonely Dutchman and making away for the distant entrance to Loch Tua.
The breeze was slight; they made but little way; far on the blue waters
they watched the white gulls sitting buoyant; and the sun was hot on
their hands. What did they talk about in this summer idleness? Many a
time he had dreamed of his thus sailing over the clear seas with the
fair Fionaghal from the South, until at times his heart, grown sick with
yearning, was ready to despair of the impossible. And yet here she was
sitting on a deck-stool near him--the wide-apart, long-lashed eyes
occasionally regarding him--a neglected book open on her lap--the