“Oh, isn’t he too perfectly sweet!” cried Sheila in an ecstasy, kissing her hand as the nurse bore him off for his tea; and then she found herself led up and presented to Lady Dumaresq, who was so gentle, and beautiful, and sweet that Sheila fell in love with her at once. Effie was not present, having been much tired by the railway journey, so that the maid had got her to bed at once. Mr. and Mrs. Cossart came into the saloon for some tea; but sat apart and looked rather forlorn. Miss Adene went and spoke to them, but they did not seem happy, and very soon went away again, so that Sheila was thankful to be able to consort with the Dumaresq party, since all the other passengers were strangers. The vessel certainly pitched a good deal as they got farther out into the Channel. Sheila did not mind it in the least; but she observed that the saloon thinned considerably, and Ronald remarked with a laugh— “I don’t think there will be many at dinner to-night.” Sheila presently slipped away to take a peep at Effie, who was dozing in her berth. She did not feel ill, she said, only tired and sleepy. She was interested to hear about Miss Adene and the Dumaresqs. Miss Adene had paid her more than one visit during her illness, and she had grown fond of her, though she had not seen her now for a good while, and she did not correspond with her as Sheila did. Mr. and Mrs. Cossart had gone to bed too, the maid said with a smile. They were both rather sea-sick, but were comfortable now. The maid was an experienced traveller and an excellent sailor. She and Sheila and the stewardess had a little laugh together over the unfortunates who were so speedily bowled over. “Poor things! It’s a dreadful sort of feeling; but they’ll be better when we’re once through the Bay. We get into smooth water then very often, especially this time of year, and they soon forget their troubles.” Ronald was right about the dinner. There were very few at table, and the Captain was still on the bridge. He did not generally leave his post there till the perils of the Channel were passed. Sir Guy came up from his cabin looking thin and frail, but with a sunburnt tint upon his face from the open-air life he had led all the summer. Sheila thought him very handsome and very interesting. He and Lady Dumaresq seemed surrounded by a halo of romance; they were so much attached to each other, and were both so very handsome and attractive. Indeed, Sheila thought that the voyage and the long stay in Madeira with such nice people would be enchanting, and her bright spirits bubbled over in little peals of happy laughter and merry repartee in answer to Ronald’s chaff. After dinner he took her for a prowl upon the deck. She would have liked to wander up and down a long time; but the air blew chilly, so he took her in to Miss Adene, who was now almost the sole occupant of the drawing-room saloon, weariness or the motion of the boat having driven others below.