"Not luck," she said, indignantly. "You would have won but for treachery."
"Treachery is rather a hard word," he said. "However, it is of no use crying over spilt milk. I have lost, and shall live to fight another day, I hope; and next time I shall win. Still, you know, there is really nothing to grumble at. I have been fortunate altogether this season, and as I bought the Osprey as a cruiser, I have done a great deal better with her than I could have expected."
At this moment another partner of Bertha's came up, and was about to carry her off, when she said:
"I suppose the Osprey can sail still, Major Mallett?"
"Oh, yes. She is a lame duck, you know, but she can get about all right."
"Well, why don't you ask mamma and me to take a sail with you tomorrow afternoon?"
"I shall be very happy to do so," he said, "but I almost think that you had better wait until she gets her spars. I don't think that they will be finished before tomorrow evening. The men can get to work early in the morning, and we can be here by two o'clock next day."
"No, I think that we will come tomorrow, Major Mallett.
"It will be a novelty to sail in a cripple, won't it, mamma?
"Besides, you know, or you ought to know, that the day after tomorrow is Sunday, and that at present our plans are arranged for going up to town on Monday."