"You will have an agreeable cruise, I dare say, with a pleasant set of messmates; Hubert de Vaux is a good fellow himself, and Stryker is in his element on such occasions."
"We are to have Charlie Hubbard too, and Harman Van Horne."
"How long will you be gone?" said Elinor.
"Some ten days, or a fortnight at the very farthest."
"Can we see anything of Mr. de Vaux's boat from here?" asked Mrs.
Creighton, stepping on the piazza.
"Only her masts; in this direction, near the grove," replied
Harry. "She is a schooner, and a beautiful craft, too."
"Miss Wyllys, you should coax Mr. de Vaux to give the ladies a pic-nic when he returns," said Mrs. Creighton.
"No doubt he would be happy to do so, if you were to express the wish," said Elinor.
"Unfortunately I shall not be here. Wyllys-Roof is a dangerous place, one always stays here too long; but I cannot positively afford more than a day or two at present; I have promised to be in town on Thursday."
Elinor expressed her regrets very hospitably; and they were soon after summoned to dinner.