"Good morning, Mr. Drew."
He was on his feet in a flash, holding out his hand in eager greeting. "I was wondering when I was going to see you!" he exclaimed.
"You'll probably see too much of me before this voyage is over," Ruth said demurely. "I expect you men will be frightfully bored with one lone woman hovering around all the time."
Drew's eyes were eloquent with denial.
"Impossible!" he said emphatically. Then he became conscious that Tyke was looking on with some curiosity.
"Oh, I forgot," he said. "Mr. Grimshaw, this is Miss Hamilton, Captain Hamilton's daughter. Miss Hamilton, this is Captain Grimshaw."
Ruth held out her hand, but Tyke deliberately drew her to him and kissed her on the cheek. She extricated herself blushingly.
"An old man's privilege, my dear," said Tyke placidly. "An' I've known your father going on thirty years."
Drew wished that it were a young man's privilege as well.
"So you're Rufus Hamilton's daughter," went on Tyke. "My, my! An' pooty as a picture, too."