Accordingly, Lord Haverley and his daughter, Lady Greendale and Bertha, and two others of the party were rowed to the Osprey. Frank saw them coming and met them at the gangway. "We are taking you by storm, Major," Lord Haverley said, "but Lady Greendale and her daughter claim an almost proprietary interest in the Osprey, because the latter is her godmother. Indeed, we are all naturally interested in her, too, as being one of our cracks. She is a very smart-looking craft, though I think it is a pity that she is not cutter rigged." "She would look prettier, no doubt," Frank said; "but, you see, though she was built as a racer, and I like a race occasionally, that was not my primary object. I wanted her for cruising, and there is no doubt that a yawl is more handy, and you can work her with fewer hands than you can a cutter of the same size." They went round the vessel, and then returning on deck, sat down and chatted while waiting for the boat's return. "I sincerely hope that you will win, Frank, on Friday," Lady Greendale said. "Our sympathies are rather divided, but I hope the Osprey will win." "Thank you, Lady Greendale, but I am by no means sanguine about it. "I fancy, Miss Haverley, that you and Miss Greendale will see the winning flag flying overhead when the race is over." "Why do you think so, Major?" Lord Haverley asked. "The general opinion is that your record is better than that of the Phantom. She has done well in the two or three races she has sailed, but she certainly did not beat the Lesbia or the Mermaid by as much as you did." "That may be," Frank agreed, "but I regard Carthew as having been born under a lucky star; and though my own opinion is that if the Phantom were in other hands we should beat her, I fancy his luck will pull her through." Haverley laughed. "I should not have given you credit for being superstitious, Major." "I don't think that I have many superstitions, but I own to something like it in this case." Bertha looked earnestly at him. Just before the gig returned from the shore, she and Frank were standing together. "I am sorry that I shall not have your good wishes tomorrow," he said. "I have not said that anyone will have my good wishes," she replied. "I shall be on board the Phantom because I was invited there before you asked me, but my hope is that the best yacht will win. I want to speak to you for a minute or two. When can I see you?" "I can come up tomorrow morning early," he replied. "What time will best suit you?" "Ten o'clock; please ask for mamma." The next morning, Lady Greendale and Bertha came together into the sitting room into which Frank had been shown on calling at Lord Haverley's. "You are early, Frank."