She
had been repainted, the saloon and ladies' cabin were decorated in
delicate shades of gray, picked out with gold; and the upholsterer,
into whose hands the owner of the Seabird had placed her, had done
his work with taste and judgment, and the ladies' cabin resembled
a little boudoir.
"Why, Tom, I should have hardly known her!" Grantham, who had often
spent a day on board the Seabird, said.
"I hardly know her myself," Tom said, rather ruefully; "but I hope
she's all right, Mrs. Grantham, and that you and Miss Graham will
find everything you want."
"It is charming!" Mrs. Grantham said enthusiastically. "It's
awfully good of you, Tom, and we appreciate it; don't we, Minnie?
It is such a surprise, too; for James said that while I should find
everything very comfortable, I must not expect that a small yacht
would be got up like a palace."
So a fortnight had passed; they had cruised along the coast as far
as Plymouth, anchoring at night at the various ports on the way.
Then they had returned to Southampton, and it had been settled
that as none of the party, with the exception of Virtue himself,
had been to the Channel Islands, the last fortnight of the trip
should be spent there. The weather had been delightful, save that
there had been some deficiency in wind, and throughout the cruise
the Seabird had been under all the sail she could spread.
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