I won't go .sx " She hung her head , and her voice tailed off into the tone of disappointment .sx There was a stiffish breeze , what if it freshened and the new engine broke down ?sx Philip was suddenly tormented by anxiety .sx " I 'd like it better if I was with you , " he said .sx " I'll go and talk to the old buffer .sx " Just then Sarah Rachael's voice hailed :sx " Come quick , Morwyn , and get on your things !sx Captain Joyce must go !sx " .sx Two more heavy slogs on that wedge and the last limb of the batten would be cloven .sx " You go !sx " said Philip .sx Morwyn ran off .sx Olden completed his task and flung down the hammer .sx He thought he could square Joyce all right .sx The captain and Sarah Rachael were walking down to the beach .sx When he got to them they were pushing out the dinghy .sx He lent a hand .sx " I'd like to come , too , Captain , " he said .sx " Can't take two passengers , " said Joyce .sx " There'd be trouble .sx Not supposed to take any one , only she's so anxious to go .sx " " You never know what that Johnnie Piper'll be up to , " explained Sarah Rachael .sx " There he is with his wife , now , spying on us worse than a hundred thousand Germans !sx " Morwyn came racing down the sand .sx She was bare-legged and dressed in the old blue jersey and short frieze skirt .sx She looked the veriest sea elf .sx Joyce went down to the stern-sheets and took an oar to push off .sx Morwyn put her hands on the stem and gave a shove , and splashed into the sea after the little boat .sx Then she sprang in as only one brought up to the use of rowing-boats knows how to .sx So they went off and Sarah Rachael remained , her hand raised to shade her eyes .sx Philip ran to the promontory on which stood the white seamark .sx He waved vigorously as the light fishing-boat lurched out into the sea-way and made off .sx And Morwyn , holding on by a shroud , leaned out over the gurgling , moving heaps of water and waved .sx back as violently as her spirits were quickening to the jollity of sea feeling .sx Then her eyes fell on the deck .sx It was littered with bits of shavings , coloured dust from sand-papered paintwork , bits of cotton waste .sx " William Joyce !sx " she called out .sx " Your decks are filthy .sx I want a mop and a bucket .sx " Joyce left the tiller an instant and shouted down the cuddy :sx " Mop and bucket wanted on deck !sx " .sx Presently a man with a very dirty face , dressed in a chocolate-coloured boiler-suit , presented the upper half of himself , holding aloft the required articles .sx He looked round .sx When his eye caught Morwyn , a Lancashire voice came out of him :sx " Well , I don't knaw !sx " This was meant for admiration .sx Then he smiled , showing the red of his lips and a fine row of teeth , all set off in high contrast by the black grease-marks .sx " Art goin' to clean up t' shop for us , miss ?sx " he asked .sx " Yes , " said Morwyn .sx " Will you please put a line on that bucket .sx I want to capsize it .sx " The man gave his head a hearty jerk to one side .sx " Oo wants to capsize it !sx " he exclaimed .sx " Oo's a proper sailor , Cap'n .sx " " Damn sight better sailor than you , " said Joyce .sx " Oo is an' aa' - by Crikey , oo is !sx " He shot up suddenly on deck like a jack-in-the-box , put the mop and bucket down , vaulted into the fish-well , and re-appeared with two fathoms of small rope .sx " Let 's see the' mak yon fast proper shipshape !sx " Morwyn took the line and with the end of it put a clove-hitch on to the handle of the bucket .sx He watched the neat manipulation of her fingers and thought fit to comment :sx " Well , baa goom !sx Yon 's not gurl-guide fashion .sx And they say t' ladies'll never mak' sailors !sx " Morwyn dropped the bucket overside with a sharp bring-up that capsized it , then heaved it aboard again full of water .sx That sea air of the sea's self that never seems to come ashore even at the seaside , the prospect of swabbing decks , the keen admiration of the dirty-faced man , filled Morwyn with a frenzy of delight .sx She spun the mop in her hands like a catherine-wheel and laughed , shaking her hair back .sx After that the mechanic cleaned himself up , singing as he scrubbed :sx " Oh !sx Oh !sx Oh !sx Oh !sx - Oh !sx you beautiful dorl .sx " Then he became chef and presently rent the air with the smell of frying onions .sx The meal was served on deck .sx The way Morwyn ate her portion while the light craft yawed and bobbed over the swells put the finishing touches to the young man's admiration of her as a blue-water sailor .sx By two o'clock the Excel had headed out of Segontyn Bay so far that the low land of Lyrad was a faint blue from which you could hardly pick out the speck of Meneivion lighthouse .sx South Angle Head stood up in the distance over the starboard quarter .sx And still they were making for the open sea .sx A steamer had been in sight for a little time .sx Joyce was examining her carefully with his glasses .sx She had a white hull and fiddle bows .sx He handed the glasses to Morwyn .sx " Can you make her out ?sx " he asked .sx " She's a yacht , " said Morwyn .sx The two boats were on convergent courses and the yacht quickly grew in detail .sx Presently a couple of flags fluttered out from the signal halyards .sx Joyce put up the glasses .sx " She's speaking us , " he said , and moved the tiller a point , telling his engineer to go below .sx A little later :sx " They want us for something .sx Go easy !sx " " Go easy !sx " the mechanic checked back .sx Speed slackened .sx The bow-wave of the steamer grew less .sx She was being brought up .sx The two vessels approached to within a cable's length .sx " Stop her !sx " shouted the skipper .sx Then he said to Morwyn :sx " We'll go off to him in the jolly-boat and see what he wants .sx " When way was off the fishing-boat the captain pulled up the small boat towing astern .sx They got in .sx Morwyn was enchanted by this adventure .sx " I'll row !sx " she cried .sx The accommodation ladder was being let down from the yacht .sx She was a very trim craft , but looked much smaller at close range than when she had appeared .sx steaming near the horizon .sx As she rolled in the swell she showed green below the waterline .sx There was a girl standing at the head of the gangway .sx She gave an exclamation as Morwyn brought the boat round sharp for Joyce to lay hold of the grating .sx She looked up and saw Caroline Shore .sx Morwyn was struck first by complete surprise and then with a flutter which sent the blood to her cheeks hotly .sx " Morwyn !sx " called Carry .sx " Where have you come from ?sx " The captain went up on deck .sx A sailor met him and said :sx " Come aft , sir , please .sx " Carry ran down the gangway .sx Morwyn made the boat fast by her long painter saying :sx " She'll bump if I leave her , though .sx " Like magic another sailor , with " S.Y. Lalia " embroidered on his sleek blue jersey , glissaded down the accommodation ladder , and said :sx " I'll keep her off , miss .sx " Morwyn took Carry's hand and stepped on to the grating .sx They went up on deck .sx Come to my cabin , " said Carry .sx " It 's the most lovely cabin in the world .sx " She led the way under the bridge round on to the port deck and threw a door open .sx They both went in .sx " Carry !sx " exclaimed Morwyn .sx It was one wonder to go off to a strange steamer , another to find Caroline Shore there .sx But the biggest wonder of all was to see Carry such an altered creature .sx She was smartly dressed .sx Her sharp features had lost that keen , hungry look , and she had a high colour in her cheeks .sx Her eyes sparkled , and she laughed with an exulting ring of tone that was almost unnatural .sx The cabin was the breadth of the deck-house and had a door on the far side .sx It was lit by four portholes , one on each side , and two in the forward bulkhead , which looked straight out into the bows .sx The room was panelled with a light grey wood , and little dove-coloured silk curtains hung on each side of the port-holes .sx There were two wooden bedsteads , ebony-black , one on each side - you could sit up and look straight out to whatever was passing between you and the horizon .sx There were two deep easy chairs in grey wicker , a dressing-table , and an escritoire ; and two wardrobes with long mirrors on their doors were let into the after bulkhead .sx The floor was parqueted and had mats let into sunken spaces cut for that purpose .sx Their design was jade-green lozenges in a black trellis .sx The cushions in the chairs , and the eiderdowns , were all bright colours .sx " Isn't it wonderful !sx " said Caroline .sx She put her thumb on the bell-push .sx Morwyn was lost in amazement .sx This luxurious cabin , although entirely novel to her in conception , design , and furnishing , yet had about it something familiar and personal .sx She crept to the forward scuttle and looked out into the bows .sx The milk-white deck , the fine teak woodwork , the polished brass fittings were a sudden and awe-inspiring contrast to the state of things on the Excel .sx A sailor with melting blue eyes and a face scrubbed as clean and shining as a cherub's padded along in bare feet to a bell hung in a shining brass crutch .sx He laid hold of the little tab attached to its tongue and smote five times .sx The beautiful tone of the bell as the last stroke hummed out between wind and water thrilled Morwyn with a sea-glamour out-topping her experience .sx " Come in !sx " said Caroline .sx Morwyn turned quickly .sx She had been so absorbed she had not heard the three taps on the door .sx A clean-shaven , grave-faced steward presented himself .sx " Bring us some tea and buttered toast , " ordered Caroline .sx " Very good , madam .sx " " You'd like some tea , wouldn't you , Morwyn ?sx I had lunch awfully early .sx " " I must go and see if Captain Joyce will wait , " said Morwyn .sx " He's all right , " said Carry .sx " Now they've seen you're a friend of the family our skipper will have taken him off to have a drink .sx You mustn't butt in !sx You stay and talk to me .sx I've got tons of news and .sx gossip I've been saving up for somebody .sx " Then she explained .sx " They thought you were a trawler , and the chef wanted some fresh fish for dinner , and they signalled - and lo !sx a well-known mermaid .sx It must be true that there are more queer fish in the sea than ever came out of it .sx " She burst into laughter .sx Morwyn said prosaicly :sx " But they're not fishing at all .sx They're just trying an engine .sx " Then , with a burst of enthusiasm :sx " But , Caroline , this is like a fairy-tale .sx Whose yacht is it ?sx " .sx " A friend's .sx Mrs. Seegale ought to have been with us , but she couldn't manage it in the end .sx Perhaps that's lucky for you .sx " There was a look of strong disgust in Caroline's face as she mentioned Mrs. Seegale .sx " I'm afraid Mrs. Seegale's very angry with me , " said Morwyn .sx " That reminds me !sx Where's that ten bob I lent you to run away with ?sx " Morwyn blushed violently .sx " Of course I haven't forgotten , " she said .sx " I'll send it to you to-morrow .sx " " Care of Davy Jones !sx - another of your deep , cunning Welshmen , a cadger , distantly related to Mr. Cuffin-Thomas .sx " She dropped into an easy chair .sx " You are a marvellous person !sx You've no idea what you can't do if you haven't got money .sx And , what's more important , what you can do if you have it .sx " Morwyn sat down in the other wicker chair .sx It had a deep spring seat .sx She felt herself in a different world .sx Her old , tight-fitting , much-darned blue jersey , her rough , short skirt , and her bare legs struck her suddenly as shameful , and she dreaded the reappearance of the steward , who had more of the grand manner of a butler than a seaman .sx " First I must tell you about Esme Paul , " said Carry .sx " No , " said Morwyn .sx " Don't , please .sx I don't want to hear about him .sx " .sx