“Morning, morning,” he cried; “splendid day for our trip. Why, bravo, Jack! The very thing. Your get-up is splendid, my lad, and it makes me impatient to be off. You are going with us of course?”
“I suppose so,” said Jack with a sigh.
“I don’t mean on our trip, but to see the vessel.”
That sounded to the boy like a temporary reprieve, and he looked inquiringly at the doctor.
“I had not said anything about it to him,” said Sir John. “We have had particulars from my agent of a large ocean-going steam yacht, my boy, which sounds well. It is really a sailing vessel, but fitted with a screw for occasional use in calm or storm. She is lying at Dartmouth, and we are going down to see her to-day. Will you come?”
“Do you wish me to come, father?” said Jack.
“Of course I do, but what I do wish is to see you take an interest in all our preparations.”
“I am trying to, father.”
“Yes, and succeeding,” said the doctor, “or you would not have come out like you are this morning.”
“How soon do you start?” said Jack hurriedly, to escape the doctor’s allusions to his dress.