side, and a wall at the other which seemed to hang right over the sea.

They soon reached the Long Quay, and made their bargain for the best
boat to be had. A man of the name of Driver kept many boats for hire,
and he offered now to accompany the young party and show off the
beauties of the place.

This, however, Mabel would not hear of. They must go alone or not at
all. Loftus did not like to own to his very small nautical experience;
the sea was smooth and shining, and apparently free from all danger, and
the little party embarked gayly, and put out on their first cruise in
high spirits.

Miss Peters and Mrs. Butler watched them with intense interest from
their bay window. Miss Peters had possession of the spy-glass. With this
held steadily before her eyes, she shouted observations to her sister.

"There they go! No, Dan Driver is _not_ going with them! Any one
can see by the way that young man handles the oar that he doesn't know a
great deal about the water. Good gracious, Martha, they're taking a sail
with them! Now I do call that tempting Providence. That young man has a
very elegant figure, Martha, but mark my words he knows nothing at all
about the management of a boat. The girls know still less."

"Put down your spy-glass for a moment, and let me speak to you, Maria,"
exclaimed Mrs. Butler in an exasperated voice. "I never knew such a
tongue as yours for clap, clap, clapping. Did you say those two Bertram
girls were going out alone with a _man_! Well, I have known what to
think for some time! Alone on the water with a _young man_. Surely,
Maria, you must have made a mistake."