"Well," said the boy reluctantly, "I s'pose Mr. Dunham can sail now if he wants to." The manner in which John received the sullen permission reminded Edna of many a past occasion when her friend had not contented himself with getting what he wanted, but managed to transform reluctance into grace. "Dangerous coast around the island, is it, Benny?" asked John without moving. "How do ye mean?" "Treacherous. Hidden rocks to look out for and all that?" "Not now. Ye could set a church, steeple an' all, where we are now." "Do you carry a chart?" "Yes, fer Miss Edna. I never look at it." "Is it much trouble to get at it?" John rose as he spoke, and came over to the sailor, taking a place beside him. "Dunno as it is," vouchsafed Benny. "It's in the locker." With some further hesitation he allowed John to take the sail, and proceeded to rummage for the chart, which he shortly produced. "Now let's have a look at this," said Dunham, giving back the boat into Benny's hands, but remaining beside him as he spread the chart out on his knees. Edna could see that he was making comments and asking questions which Benny answered with increasing detail, and she turned to Sylvia with a smile. "That is so characteristic." "What?" "Why, John wants to sail this boat; but he won't do it till he's made Benny fall in love with him. So few men would care, or even notice, whether Benny liked it or not; but John was never content with merely getting his own way." Sylvia looked at the speaker wistfully. "Do you admire it in him?" she asked. Edna smiled. "Well, I like it at all events. The result is so agreeable. You'll see him sail this boat home while Benny chaperons him with all the pride of a doting guardian." "It makes him very fascinating to people, I suppose," said Sylvia. "Oh, yes. John has all sorts of equipment for that purpose." "And does he--does he think right?" asked Sylvia timidly. "I believe he doesn't look at things from our standpoint exactly, but his nature is fine. I used to consider that it was his vanity that demanded approval of everybody he had dealings with, but it seems to me now more like an instinctive desire to create a right atmosphere. Why should he care to win Benny Merritt?" "Perhaps he wants to borrow his boat," replied Sylvia naively. Edna's clear laugh rang out. "I see you won't let me make a hero of him," she said. "Oh, I will, I will!" exclaimed Sylvia earnestly, coloring. "Only you were speaking of his having his own way, and I wondered if--if he was just as charming to people when he wasn't trying to get it." "Ah, that would put him on a pedestal, wouldn't it?" replied Edna mischievously. "Let's watch him, and see." CHAPTER XXIII A PHILTRE