Her eyes were dancing with amusement as I wheeled sharply round upon her; and as my hand went up to my cap she laughed a low, musical laugh.
“Guess I startled you some, didn’t I?” she remarked in that pleasant voice of hers. “You were so completely absorbed by the charms of Stella Maris that you had neither eyes nor ears for anybody else. Well, what do you think of her?”
I was bareheaded by this time, but still a trifle confused at the suddenness and unconventionality of my companion’s address; yet I quickly recovered my equanimity.
“She is the most lovely craft I ever set eyes on, bar none,” I answered with enthusiasm.
“Yes, she is a real daisy,” agreed my companion. “Do you know what she is?”
“I know what she ought to be,” I said; “and that is, flagship of the Club. But I see by her burgee that she is merely the property of one of its members.”
“That is so,” returned the lady; “but I guess it’s good enough. Say, would you like to go aboard and have a look at her from inside?”
“Indeed I should, if her owner would not—”
I hesitated.
“Well, come along, then,” cut in my companion. “I’m the owner, and I promise you that I won’t.”