"Would you like to take the helm and steer, Miss Collingsby?"
"No, I thank you; not now."
"You enjoyed it so much when we sailed last time, that I thought you were cut out for a sailor."
"Half the pleasure of sailing is the company you have with you," added Marian.
"And you think you are losing one half of the pleasure of the present occasion?" said Mr. Waterford.
"I did not say that, but I did expect a lively party, as you told me you had invited half a dozen ladies and gentlemen."
"I did; and they all promised to come if it was possible," pleaded the skipper. "I am very sorry they did not, and that you are so much dissatisfied with your present company."
"Why, no, Mr. Waterford; I did not say that, and did not mean it," interposed Marian. "I only say that half the fun on the water is having a good lively party. You know what a nice time we had singing and chatting the last time we went."
"We had a pleasant time. I thought, from what you said, that you considered your present company rather disagreeable, and the excursion a failure."
"You know I did not mean any such thing as that, Mr. Waterford," said Marian, reproachfully. "You are very kind to invite me at all, and it is very ungrateful for me to say anything; but I do like a lively party."