A shy smile came over the gentle features, and she turned aside.
"And we can't have you pretend that we forced you to go. If we go at all, you must lead the way."
"You would tease the life out of a saint," she said with a vexed and embarrassed laugh; and then she marched out before them, very glad to be able to conceal her heightened color.
But much of her reserve vanished when they had set sail; and when the small cutter was beginning to make way through the light and plashing waves Wenna's face brightened. She no longer let her two companions talk exclusively to each other. She began to show a great curiosity about the little yacht; she grew anxious to have the lines flung out; no words of hers could express her admiration for the beauty of the afternoon and of the scene around her.
"Now, are you glad you came out?" he said to her.
"Yes," she answered shyly. "And you'll take my advice another time?"
"Do you ever take any one's advice?" she said, venturing to look up.
"Yes, certainly," he answered, "when it agrees with my own inclination. Who ever does any more than that?"
They had now got a good bit away from land.
"Skipper," said Trelyon to Mr. Grainger's man, "we'll put her about now and let her drift. Here is a cigar for you: you can take it up to the bow and smoke it, and keep a good lookout for the sea-serpent."