She thought the young ones did not want Miss Chance to go--they certainly did not, but the reasons put forward were strictly facts.
She was sweet and sympathetic, but her mind was made up.
"Please make it as nice and easy for her as possible, dear children," she said; "I depend on you, Crow; after all she has never yet been on the yacht."
There was no more to be said of course. Christobel gave way without another word. Adrian was silent, but when they were saying "good-night" he suggested quite amiably:
"We'll give the Floweret as good a time as we know how, Mum, and by the way, it's only fair to remember it isn't our fault she's never been out in the Messenger--she's always been away in the holidays when we did all the sailing--and Sir Marmaduke was here."
Mrs. Romilly protested that she knew all this. The yawl had never been at their service in term-time before--Adrian being absent.
"Perhaps this is the beginning of good times," she said; "perhaps she will make a first-rate sailor."
Brother and sister looked at each other speechless, when they got outside. Then Crow whispered:
"Are we downhearted?" and sped away to her room, head turned over her shoulder with her lips forming a very decided "No--o--o."
Adrian stood at his window presently looking out at the sweet breathless night. There was no air, the stars were clear. "If it's a calm she'll be sick," he thought, "poor old Blossom"--and peace descended on his soul.