"You wouldn't think so if you were in their midst in a motor-boat," said the Jonkheer.
"I'm ready to try," Nell answered.
"But I'm not ready to let you," he said, with one of his nice smiles.
However, this didn't conciliate Nell. In an instant she bristled up, as she used to with him, before Amsterdam.
"It's my boat," she said.
"But I'm the boat's skipper. The skipper must act according to his judgment. Joking apart though——"
"I'm not joking. If men can go, why can't women? We're not afraid. It would be fun."
"Not for the men, if they had women to think of. You see, the boat is top-heavy, owing to the cabin superstructure, and it wouldn't be impossible for her to turn turtle in a heavy sea. Besides, rough waves might break the cabin windows, and if she began to take in water in that way, we should be done, for no bailing could help us. Do you still want to make the trip, Miss Van Buren?"
"I do," Nell insisted. "Because I don't believe those things will happen."
"Neither do I, or I shouldn't care to risk your boat. But there's a chance."