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and French blood in the late Lady Graybrooke's family； settled originally
in Martinique。 Natalie had her mother's warm dusky color； her mother's
superb black hair； and her mother's melting； lazy； lovely brown eyes。 At
fifteen years of age （dating from her last birthday） she possessed the
development of the bosom and limbs which in England is rarely attained
before twenty。 Everything about the girlexcept her little rosy earswas
on a grand Amazonian scale。 Her shapely hand was long and large； her
supple waist was the waist of a woman。 The indolent grace of all her
movements had its motive power in an almost masculine firmness of
action and profusion of physical resource。 This remarkable bodily
development was far from being accompanied by any corresponding
development of character。 Natalie's manner was the gentle； innocent
manner of a young girl。 She had her father's sweet temper ingrafted on her
mother's variable Southern nature。 She moved like a goddess； and she
laughed like a child。 Signs of maturing too rapidlyof outgrowing her
strength； as the phr ase wenthad made their appearance in Sir Joseph's
daughter during the spring。 The family doctor had suggested a sea…voyage；
as a wise manner of employing the fine summer months。 Richard
Turlington's yacht was placed at her disposal； with Richard Turlington
himself included as one of the fixtures of the vessel。 With her father and
her aunt to keep up round her the atmosphere of homewith Cousin
Launcelot （more commonly known as 〃Launce〃） to carry out； if necessary；
the medical treatment prescribed by superior authority on shorethe
lovely invalid embarked on her summer cruise； and sprang up into a new
existence in the life…giving breezes of the sea。 After two happy months of
lazy coasting round the shores of England； all that remained of Natalie's
illness was represented by a delicious languor in her eyes； and an utter
inability to devote herself to anything which took the shape of a serious
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occupation。 As she sat at the cabin breakfast…table that morning； in her
quaintly…made sailing dress of old…fashioned nankeenher inbred
childishness of manner contrasting delightfully with the blooming
maturity of her formthe man must have been trebly armed indeed in the
modern philosophy who could have denied that the first of a woman's
rights is the right of being beautiful； and the foremost of a woman's merits；
the merit of being young！
The other two persons present at the table were the two gentlemen
who have already appeared on the deck of the yacht。
〃Not a breath of wind stirring！〃 said Richard Turlington。 〃The weather
has got a grudge against us。 We have drifted about four or five miles in the
last eight…and…forty hours。 You will never take another cruise with meyou
must be longing to get on shore。〃
He addressed himself to Natalie； plainly eager to make himself
agreeable to the young ladyand plainly unsuccessful in producing any
impression on her。 She made a civil answer； and looked at her tea…cup；
instead of looking at Richard Turlington。
〃You might fancy yourself on shore at this moment；〃 said Launce。
〃The vessel is as steady as a house； and the swing…table we are eating our
breakfast on is as even as your dining…room table at home。〃
He too addressed himself to Natalie； but without betraying the anxiety
to please her which had been shown by the other。 For all that； _he_
diverted the girl's attention from her tea…cup； and _his_ idea instantly
awakened a responsive idea in Natalie's mind。
〃It will be so strange on shore；〃 she said； 〃to find myself in a room that
never turns on one side； and to sit at a table that never tilts down to my
knees at one time； or rises up to my chin at another。 How I shall miss the
wash of the water at my ear； and the ring of the bell on deck。 when I am
awake at night on land！ No interest there in how the wind blows； or how
the sails are set。 No asking your way of the sun； when you are lost； with a
little brass instrument and a morsel of pencil and paper。 No delightful
wandering wherever the wind takes you； without the worry of planning
beforehand where you are to go。 Oh how I shall miss the dear； changeable；
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inconstant sea！ And how sorry I am I'm not a man and a sailor！〃
This to the guest admitted on board on sufferance； and not one word of
it addressed； even by chance； to the owner of the yacht！
Richard Turlington's heavy eyebrows contracted with an unmistakable
expression of pain。
〃If this calm weather holds；〃 he went on； addressing himself to Sir
Joseph； 〃I am afraid； Graybrooke； I shall not be able to bring you back to
the port we sailed from by the end of the week。〃
〃Whenever you like； Richard；〃 answered the old gentleman； resignedly。
〃Any time will do for me。〃
〃Any time within reasonable limits； Joseph；〃 said Miss Lavinia；
evidently feeling that her brother was conceding too much。 She spoke with
Sir Joseph's amiable smile and Sir Joseph's softly… pitched voice。 Two twin
babies could hardly have been more like one another。
While these few words were being exchanged among the elders； a
private communication was in course of progress between the two young
people under the cabin table。 Natalie's smartly…slippered foot felt its way
cautiously inch by inch over the carpet till it touched Launce's boot。
Launce； devouring his breakfast； instantly looked up from his plate； and
then； at a second touch from Natalie； looked down again in a violent hurry。
After pausing to make sure that she was not noticed； Natalie took up her
knife。 Under a perfectly…acted pretense of toying with it absently； in the
character of a young lady absorbed in thought； she began dividing a
morsel of ham left on the edge of her plate； into six tiny pieces。 Launce's
eye looked in sidelong expectation at the divided and subdivided ham。 He
was evidently waiting to see the collection of morsels put to some
telegraphic use； previously determined on between his neighbor and
himself。
In the meanwhile the talk proceeded among the other persons at the
breakfast…table。 Miss Lavinia addressed herself to Launce。
〃Do you know； you careless boy； you gave me a fright this morning？ I
was sleeping with my cabin window open； and I was awoke by an awful
splash in the water。 I called for the stewardess。 I declare I thought
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somebody had fallen overboard！〃
Sir Joseph looked up briskly； his sister had accidentally touched on an
old association。
〃Talk of falling overboard；〃 he began； 〃reminds me of an extraordinary
adventure〃
There Launce broke in； making his apologies。
〃It shan't occur again； Miss Lavinia；〃 he said。 〃To…morrow morning I'll
oil myself all over； and slip into the water as silently as a seal。〃
〃Of an extraordinary adventure；〃 persisted Sir Joseph； 〃which
happened to me many years ago； when I was a young man。 Lavinia？〃
He stopped； and looked interrogatively at his sister。 Miss Graybrooke
nodded her head responsively； and settled herself in her chair； as if
summoning her attention in anticipation of a coming demand on it。 To
persons well acquainted with the brother and sister these proceedings were
ominous of an impending narrative； protracted to a formidable length。 The
two always told a story in couples； and always differed with each other
about the facts； the sister politely contradicting the brother when it was Sir
Joseph's story； and the brother politely contradicting the sister when it was
Miss Lav