"Nonsense! No! That perfectly splendid airman, Sandy Sanderson!"
"On this boat?" murmured Belinda feebly.
"Yes, ma'am! And he's going, too. His brother has just bidden him good-by and gone ashore. Didn't you know he was to sail? What fun! Wait till I tell the Herr Doktor. Wouldn't you like to see his face when I do?" And the mischief-loving Sue Blaine ran away before Belinda could make reply.
At least, she told herself, she was forewarned. She would not meet Frank Sanderson unexpectedly. He could not, of course, have known of her decision to join the Red Cross. Undoubtedly his own plans for the voyage had long since been made. Her sailing on the Belle o' Perth could not have influenced him.
Nearly all of the visitors had gone ashore, but there was some delay in getting under way. Belinda, in a meditative mood, strolled along the deck. She was thinking of Sanderson and was somewhat startled when she heard his name mentioned.
She glanced to one side. A group of college boys were chatting gaily, just getting ready to leave the ship.
"Sanderson is on board, but Nevins didn't come," said one, disappointedly. "Too bad! I was counting on giving Dicky some good advice," and he laughed.
"Better give Sandy the advice," broke in another. "He needs it. The idea of an aviator like him tying fast to a girl like Stella!"
"And those kids!" added a third college boy.
"I understand he promised Jerry he'd do it. He was under obligations to Jerry. He just about had to marry her."