he white ribbon, she was
so delighted she could not help laughing heartily.

"Commodore Kendall, are you going to wear that ribbon to Paris?" she
asked, as Paul touched his cap to her.

"Certainly I am. I should as soon think of going without my coat as
without that," replied he.

"But how absurd!"

"Absurd? _Vous ne pouvez pas faire un sifflet de la queue d'un cochon_,"
added he, very seriously.

"_C'est vrai_; but what has that to do with the ribbon? Do you mean to
call that a pig's tail?"

"No; on the contrary, it is the wing of an angel--it was bestowed by
you. I only mean to say it would be quite impossible to go to Germany
without this ribbon. It is our talisman to keep us faithful to duty;
and I am afraid we should get into mischief if we went without it.
Every member will wear his decoration. But, Miss Arbuckle, I think you
ought to wear the white ribbon also."

"I!"

"Certainly. You are the Grand Protectress of the order. Do wear it,
Miss Arbuckle, with a rosette, to indicate your superior rank. It would
please all the members very much."

"I will, if you desire it," replied Grace, more seriously.

"We all desire it."

"It shall be done, if you wish it."

"Thanks."

Grace tripped lightly down the stairs to the cabin, but presently
returned, wearing the white ribbon, surmounted by a very tasty rosette,
composed of white, blue, and yellow ribbons, to denote the several
degrees of the order. Paul was in raptures, and when the ship's company
saw the decoration she wore, they saluted her with three rousing
cheers, which she gracefully acknowledged.

"We must perpetuate this order, Shuffles," said Paul, as they stood in
the presence of the Grand Protectress.

"I think we must," replied the captain.

"We will organize more systematically when we have time."

"And have a suitable emblem to distinguish the members."

"The white ribbon must not be discarded," protested Paul, glancing at
Grace.

"Certainly not; but we will have a gold anchor, say, from which the
ribbon shall be suspended," added Shuffles. "On the anchor shall be
engraved the single word FAITHFUL."

"And '_Vous ne pouvez pas faire_,' &c.," laughed Paul. "I think we
must ask the Grand Protectress for a suitable emblem."

"You have great confidence in me, and I will give the subject faithful
consideration," said Grace.

"Our motto is an excellent one, I think," continued Paul. "To us it
will always mean that you cannot redress