The ladies looked at each other. Then Miss Elvira, evidently the born leader, inclined her head ever so little and said, "Good morning." Mrs. Aurora looked up at her in order to see what she said.
Captain Sears tried again.
"It's a nice day for a walk," he observed.
Miss Elvira nodded and agreed, distantly—yet not too distant.
"I understand," said the captain, "that I gave you ladies a little bit of a scare the other day. Understand you thought I was a tramp. I'm real sorry. Of course I know I hadn't any business over on your premises, but, as a matter of fact, I didn't exactly realize where I was. It was the first cruise I'd made in these latitudes, as you might say, and I didn't think about keepin' on my own side of the channel buoys. I beg your pardon. I'll hope you'll excuse me."
Miss Snowden nodded elegantly and murmured that she understood.
"You are our new neighbor, I believe," she said.
"Why, yes'm, I suppose I am."
"Cap'n Kendrick, isn't it?"
"Yes."