Leslie smiled.
"He is a very self-willed old man, and no one in Portmaris interferes with or contradicts him, perhaps because he is deaf."
"I see," said Yorke. "I never realized until to-night the great advantages of that affliction."
He went forward as he spoke to assist with the sail, but the old man surlily waved him back into the stern.
"All right, William, I'll steer then," he said; but he had no sooner got hold of the tiller than Will angrily signed to him to release it, and pointed to Leslie.
"I think he wants me to steer," she said, with a faint blush. "I am often out sailing with him."
"He evidently regards me as a land lubber, whatever that is," said Yorke. "But, right! the password for to-night is, 'Don't cross old William!'"
He dropped down at her feet and leaned his head upon his hand, and sighed with supreme, unbounded content, and there was silence for a few minutes as the boat glided out to sea; then he said:
"Do you think old William would fly into a paroxysm of rage if I offered him a pipe of tobacco, Miss Lisle?"
"You might try," said Leslie, and the tone of her voice was like an echo of his. The two truants were enjoying themselves, and had no thought of the schoolmaster—just then.