"Thank you, sir," she replied; "but are you sure I might not prove a hindrance and burden?"
"Quite sure; and your companionship, if I can secure it, will be all-sufficient for me."
"Then we will consider the arrangement made, for I should be sorry indeed to intrude my companionship upon those who do not desire it," she said, with a sportive look at the captain.
"Cousin Ronald," said the latter gravely, "I think you owe me a vote of thanks for leaving Cousin Annis to you. I am sure it should be accounted a very generous thing for me to do."
"Certainly, captain, when you have only Cousin Vi, those two half-grown daughters, and two sweet children for your share," laughed Annis.
"As many as he can keep together," remarked Walter. "Well, I'm going off by myself, as I happen to know that my sister Rosie and Evelyn have been already engaged by other escorts."
"Walter, you deserve to be left at home," said Rosie severely.
"At home?" laughed Walter, "you would have to get me there first."
"You know what I mean; this yacht is home to us while we are living on it."
"And a very pleasant one it is; a delightful place to rest in when one is tired; as I realize every evening, coming back to it from the Fair."