"Don't let him come on board, if you can help it," whispered Nellie Patterdale. "He is a terrible bore."
"I can help it," replied Donald, as, with a boat-hook he shoved off the bow of the Juno.
Then, for the first time, he observed that Laud had a passenger, a man whom he remembered to have seen before, though he did not think where.
"What are you about, Don John?" demanded Laud.
"Keep off, then," replied Donald. "We don't want any visitors on board yet. We are going to haul her up to the wharf at once."
"But I came off to offer the ladies a passage to the shore," said Laud.
"They don't want any passage to the shore."
"Good morning, Miss Patterdale," added Laud, as Nellie went to the rail near the Juno. "Allow me to offer you a place in this boat to convey you to the shore."
"Thank you, Mr. Cavendish; I intend to remain where I am," replied she, rather haughtily.
"I shall be happy to take you out to sail, if you will do me the honor to accompany me; and Miss Rodman, too, if she will go."