"It would be just delightful," Madeline said, with dilating eyes. "But——"
"Then let it be delightful," Mr. Harvey interrupted. "I guess we'd be as delighted as you would be. What say you, Kitty?"
"It would be just too fine for words," Kitty replied.
"It would be like a Providence," Mrs. Harvey chimed in, "so we'll consider it settled."
"But Sir Charles might object," Madeline said, with a half-frightened look in her eyes.
"You leave his lordship to me, my dear," Peter J. interposed. "I guess I know my way about, and if he cuts up nasty, I'll treat him to a chapter out of the gospel of Peter J. Harvey."
"But what excuse should I make?"
"You needn't make any excuse at all. I'll go across and see the General myself and explain things."
"But what would you say?"
"That we had fallen across you accidentally; that we were old friends; that I knew your father; that you and Kitty were chums at school; that we are cruising round this here little arm of the ocean for a week or two longer; and that we are taking you along with us just to give you a taste of sea-faring life."