herself.

"Who arranged these rooms?" I asked.

"Mr. Harland gave orders to the steward to make them as pretty as he
could,"--said the maid--"John" and she blushed--"has a lot of
taste."

I smiled. I saw at once how matters were between her and "John."
Just then there was a sound of thudding and grinding above my head,
and I realised that we were beginning to weigh anchor. Quickly tying
on my yachting cap and veil, I hurried on deck, and was soon
standing beside my host, who seemed pleased at the alacrity with
which I had joined him, and I watched with feelings of indescribable
exhilaration the 'Diana' being loosed from her moorings. Steam was
up, and in a very short time her bowsprit swung round and pointed
outward from the bay. Quivering like an eager race-horse ready to
start, she sprang forward; and then, with a stately sweeping curve,
glided across the water, catting it into bright wavelets with her
sword-like keel and churning a path behind her of opalescent foam.
We were off on our voyage of pleasure at last,--a voyage which the
Fates had determined should, for one adventurer at least, lead to
strange regions as yet unexplored. But no premonitory sign was given
to me, or suggestion that I might be the one chosen to sail 'the
perilous seas of fairy lands forlorn'--for in spiritual things of
high import, the soul that is most concerned is always the least
expectant.