I will
speak to Fanny, and let you have an answer in the morning."
"That will be delightful, James," Mrs. Grantham said, when the
invitation was repeated to her. "I should like it of all things;
and I am sure the rest and quiet and the sea air will be just the
thing for you. It is wonderful, Tom Virtue making the offer; and
I take it as a great personal compliment, for he certainly is not
what is generally called a lady's man. It is very nice, too, of him
to think of my having another lady on board. Whom shall we ask? Oh,
I know," she said suddenly; "that will be the thing of all others.
We will ask my cousin Minnie; she is full of fun and life, and will
make a charming wife for Tom!"
James Grantham laughed.
"What schemers you all are, Fanny! Now I should call it downright
treachery to take anyone on board the Seabird with the idea of
capturing its master."
"Nonsense, treachery!" Mrs. Grantham said indignantly; "Minnie
is the nicest girl I know, and it would do Tom a world of good to
have a wife to look after him. Why, he is thirty now, and will be
settling down into a confirmed old bachelor before long. It's the
greatest kindness we could do him, to take Minnie on board; and
I am sure he is the sort of man any girl might fall in love with
when she gets to know him.
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