"Never, Miss Collingsby! Of course the name itself is but a word, but the association will cause me to cherish it forever." "How very fine you talk, Mr. Waterford!" "But I say just what I mean, and utter only what is nearest to my heart." "It is a pity you were not a lawyer, for you always make out a very good case." "I am afraid I should only succeed as a lawyer when I was interested in my client, as in the present instance." "How long will it be before we overtake Mr. Whippleton?" asked Miss Collingsby, as though she deemed it prudent to change the conversation, which I thought was becoming just a little silly, as such talk always is to all but those who are immediately interested. "That will depend upon which boat sails the fastest." "You always said the Michigan--" "No, the Marian," interposed the skipper. "Please to call the boat by her right name." "Well, the Marian; you always said she was the fastest boat on the lake." "I think so, though she has never had a fair trial with the Florina." "I wish you would hurry her up, for I really wish to see Julia Lord, and have her in the boat with me. I suppose that neither Mr. Whippleton nor Florina will object to the transfer." "Perhaps not. If any one has the right to object, I am the person," replied the skipper, in a low tone, though I heard what he said. "You promised to provide me with company, or I should not have come," pouted Miss Collingsby, blushing. "I hoped you would deem me sufficient company." "Why, what impudence! I want the company of young ladies." "But you don't object to my company--do you?" "Certainly not, in your proper place, at the helm of the yacht." Though I was not skilled at all in woman's ways, I thought the fair girl was struggling between two fires. She rather liked Mr. Waterford, on the one hand, and was very unwilling to commit herself by accepting any of his delicate attentions, or by appearing to be pleased by his compliments. In a word, I thought she liked him, but was afraid of him. He was, as I have before intimated, a very good-looking fellow, elegant and agreeable in his manners and speech. If he had been half as good as he looked, he would have been worthy the beautiful girl at his side. It was not very difficult for me to believe, after what I had heard her father say, that she had been warned against him, and that duty and inclination were struggling against each other in her mind. "It is half past eleven, Phil," said Mr. Waterford, consulting his watch. "Shall we have any dinner to-day?" "Certainly, if you desire it," I replied, presenting myself before the skipper in the standing-room. "Whippleton says you are a cook, Phil. Is that so?" "I can cook," I replied, modestly. "Can you get up a dinner fit for a lady?" laughed Mr. Waterford. "I can roast, bake, boil, broil, and fry. If the lady will be suited with any of these, I will do the best I can to please her." "I thought you were my father's clerk," added Miss Collingsby.