To divert attention, possibly, Dwight suddenly turned to the girls, and inspected them with apparent curiosity.
"You seem to be decorated, this afternoon," he remarked in a non-committal tone, "and got on your pink and blue ribbons, I declare!"
His gaze rested on the sea-biscuit, and he lowered his eyelids to hide the laugh behind them.
"You didn't know we had decorations on this ship?" asked Hope teasingly. "Only a few get them. They are for good conduct under trying conditions. We have been ill, but not disagreeably ill. There's a difference."
The gentlemen were looking at the painted squares, now, and her father said, "What's that nonsense, my dear? What are they, anyhow?"
"Just something the stormy petrels dropped through our porthole," said
Faith, gravely taking up the tale. "Aren't they pretty?"
"H'm! Quite so." Mr. Lawrence was also indulging in a long look. "Did a merman paint them for you? And what sea-king got up that poetry? It seems well selected, if not entirely original." He glanced at his nephew quizzically, and added, "I suppose the other name of that Freedom who shrieked was Dwight, wasn't it? Pretty well, sir, pretty well! I recognize the work. Your style is original, Mr. Artist Vanderhoff."
"And didn't you help him one bit, Mr. Lawrence?" asked Faith.
"Did not even know of it, Miss Hosmer."
"Then I call it a mighty smart performance!" cried Hope in a tone of finality which brought a hearty laugh from the group.