He had scarcely got his bow toward her, when a second gust, a still stronger one, caught her before she had quite recovered from the last, and in less time than one can write, her boat was upside down, and she herself struggling in the water. “Hold on to the boat,” shouted a voice near at hand; “I’ll be with you in a few seconds.” Paddy’s first idea had been to swim for the shore, but at the sound of the voice, she was glad enough to turn and cling to her capsized boat, though with no small wonderment that anyone should be so near. Then she recognised the little yacht bearing down on her, and saw that the occupant must have turned some minutes before, and probably been watching her. A moment later he was helping her up the side, and she stood before him, like a half-drowned rat—with the water pouring off her in all directions. For one moment they looked at each other silently, not quite sure how to proceed, and then the humour of the situation became too much for Paddy, and she burst out laughing, he immediately following suit, quite unable to help himself. “What in the name of wonder do I look like?” she said, glancing down at her dripping skirt, and the streams of water all round. “A little damp!” he suggested, and they laughed again. “But you must be awfully plucky and awfully rash,” he added, not without admiration. “Oh, yes! I’m all that,” asserted Paddy; “but I’ve got a charmed life, so it doesn’t matter. I must look perfectly awful, though,” and she laughed again. “Not at all,” gallantly; “but I’m afraid you’ll take cold. Do you live near?” “Only at Omeath, but we shall have to tack, so it will take rather a long time.” “I should think so,” impressively. “We’ll go into Carlingford, and I’ll take you to my aunt’s to get some dry clothes.” “Who is your aunt?” asked Paddy, inwardly admiring the skill with which he managed his boat; and not a little also his broad shoulders and frank, pleasant face. “Mrs Masterman, at Dunluce.” “Goodness!” she exclaimed in surprise, without stopping to think. “Are you Colonel Masterman’s nephew who came yesterday?” “Yes, why?” looking up curiously. Paddy found herself in a fix, and she flushed crimson, feeling ready to bite her tongue out for being so hasty. “Why?” he asked again, in a way that made her feel she must answer. “Only that I heard something about you this afternoon,” she stammered. “And what did you hear?” His grey eyes had an amused twinkle in them now, and there was something so disarming about his smile; that with an answering twinkle in her own, Paddy looked at him slyly and said: “Oh! nothing much—only that you bought picture post-cards.” CHAPTER V Ted Masterman. “Was that all?” asked Ted Masterman, reaching across to tuck his rain-proof coat, which he fortunately had with him, closer round her, and looking still more amused. “Not quite, but it’s all I’m going to tell you,” said Paddy. “Oh, no, it isn’t,” with a smile; “you’re going to tell me the rest.”