"Shan't you try sailing any more then?" asked Pamela in rather an innocent voice.
"No, dear, I think not," answered Miss Chance with fervour.
"But where is Messenger?" went on Pam, "I can see they dropped you at the Ramsworthy Cove, but what are they doing? Coming home, or going back?"
"They'll come home if they can," informed Hughie, speaking for the first time; "but Addie thought the tide mightn't last out. If it doesn't, I'm to tell Mum not to bother, because they'll just run back to the harbour and anchor inside the bar. It would be ripping. I wish I could have stayed."
"Mother might have worried about your being on the yawl, anchored out," said Pamela.
"She needn't," said Hughie rather sorrowfully--then he went on with more vigour, "some day I shall anchor in all sorts of places. In the Nile, and in the Zambesi, and in the Lawrence, and in the Danube, and crowds besides. It's only just waiting till then. I don't much care."
In a spirit of philosophy he lapsed into silence, opening the gate on to the Bell House lawn with an absent air.
There was so much to tell Mrs. Romilly that her attention was distracted from the possible troubles of the yawl; besides, Miss Chance was so very sincere in her assurances about the calm.
Pamela added that it was as safe inside the bar of Salterne river as at the bridge.
"Much safer than Bell Bay."