"Says I to myself there must be some mistake, What a great fuss these old folks make, If the boys and the girls had all been so afraid, Why grandma herself would have been an old maid." Jean sang the foolish words recklessly, and when she had finished shot a half-defiant glance from under her long lashes in Farr's direction. His eyes met hers with a long, steady look. Somewhat disconcerted, Jean flushed hotly and turned hurriedly away. "That was a daisy, Jean," and Dick roared with laughter. When the merriment had subsided a little: "Farr," said Dudley, rising and making his way out of the circle, "I think you have had your turn at the wheel. Suppose I take your place for a while." "I hope you are not very much bored, Mr. Farr," ventured Jean shyly. "Quite the reverse--much entertained," he replied quietly. Jean wondered if there were a touch of sarcasm in this reply, but his face was impenetrable. "Charming accent he has," smiled Eleanor in an aside to Nan. "I wonder where he got it, don't you?" "Have you lived very much abroad, Mr. Farr?" queried Eleanor, turning politely to him. "And why do you ask?" "Why, your accent is so un-American." A broad smile crossed Dudley's face as he caught Miss Hill's words. It amused him not a little to hear reticent Farr thus catechized. "Where are you from?" asked Nathalie, coming to the front in her usual outspoken fashion. Farr glanced at her, and then, after an instant's hesitation, answered languidly. "From New Jersey." At this the little group, throwing manners to the winds, burst into merry laughter. "Doesn't look a bit like a mosquito," said Nan to Mollie in an audible whisper. Poor Mollie looked quite horror-struck, for she felt sure that the saucy words had reached Farr's ear. If the man felt any annoyance he was most successful in concealing it, for his expression remained quite unchanged. Not so with poor Jean, who had flushed hotly at what she considered Nan's unwarrantable impertinence. She made a swift, angry little movement, and the book she had been holding slipped to the deck. Farr leaned forward, and picked it up. As he returned it to her his eyes met hers with a quiet, reassuring smile, for he had been quick to notice the girl's silent championship, and it had greatly touched him. The color in Jean's face deepened, and with sudden shyness she dropped her eyes. "Have a cigar, Farr?" To these two Clifford Archer's question came almost like an interruption, although no word had been spoken between them. "No, thanks," taking from his pocket a silver case of curious design, "but, if no one objects, I will light a cigarette!" "I can't help it," cried Nathalie, laughing until the tears were in her eyes, "did you hear the way he said that word 'cigarette,'--with such a lingering over each syllable? I am sure you are a Spaniard, Mr. Farr, in spite of New Jersey." "I knew it," Nan put in, "the moment you spoke."