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Launcelot Linzie is Natalie Graybrooke's cousin。 Given those two
advantagesQuery： Has he taken Natalie's fancy？〃
Turning that question slowly over and over in his mind； Richard
Turlington seated himself in a corner at the stern of the vessel。 He was still
at work on the problem； when the young surgeon returned to his cabin to
put the finishing touches to his toilet。 He had not reached the solution
when the steward appeared an hour later and said； 〃Breakfast is ready；
sir！〃
They were a party of five round the cabin table。
First； Sir Joseph Graybrooke。 Inheritor of a handsome fortune made by
his father and his grandfather in trade。 Mayor； twice elected； of a thriving
provincial town。 Officially privileged； while holding that dignity； to hand a
silver trowel to a royal personage condescending to lay a first stone of a
charitable edifice。 Knighted； accordingly； in honor of the occasion。 Worthy
of the honor and worthy of the occasion。 A type of his eminently
respectable class。 Possessed of an amiable； rosy face； and soft； silky white
hair。 Sound in his principles； tidy in his dress； blessed with moderate
politics and a good digestiona harmless； healthy； spruce； speckless；
weak…minded old man。
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Miss or Mrs。？
Secondly； Miss Lavinia Graybrooke； Sir Joseph's maiden sister。
Personally； Sir Joseph in petticoats。 If you knew one you knew the other。
Thirdly； Miss Natalie GraybrookeSir Joseph's only child。
She had inherited the personal appearance and the temperament of her
motherdead many years since。 There had been a mixture of Negro blood
and French blood in the late Lady Graybrooke's family； settled originally
in Martinique。 Natalie had her mother's warm dusky color； her mother's
superb black hair； and her mother's melting； lazy； lovely brown eyes。 At
fifteen years of age （dating from her last birthday） she possessed the
development of the bosom and limbs which in England is rarely attained
before twenty。 Everything about the girlexcept her little rosy earswas
on a grand Amazonian scale。 Her shapely hand was long and large； her
supple waist was the waist of a woman。 The indolent grace of all her
movements had its motive power in an almost masculine firmness of
action and profusion of physical resource。 This remarkable bodily
development was far from being accompanied by any corresponding
development of character。 Natalie's manner was the gentle； innocent
manner of a young girl。 She had her father's sweet temper ingrafted on her
mother's variable Southern nature。 She moved like a goddess； and she
laughed like a child。 Signs of maturing too rapidlyof outgrowing her
strength； as the phr ase wenthad made their appearance in Sir Joseph's
daughter during the spring。 The family doctor had suggested a sea…voyage；
as a wise manner of employing the fine summer months。 Richard
Turlington's yacht was placed at her disposal； with Richard Turlington
himself included as one of the fixtures of the vessel。 With her father and
her aunt to keep up round her the atmosphere of homewith Cousin
Launcelot （more commonly known as 〃Launce〃） to carry out； if necessary；
the medical treatment prescribed by superior authority on shorethe
lovely invalid embarked on her summer cruise； and sprang up into a new
existence in the life…giving breezes of the sea。 After two happy months of
lazy coasting round the shores of England； all that remained of Natalie's
illness was represented by a delicious languor in her eyes； and an utter
inability to devote herself to anything which took the shape of a serious
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Miss or Mrs。？
occupation。 As she sat at the cabin breakfast…table that morning； in her
quaintly…made sailing dress of old…fashioned nankeenher inbred
childishness of manner contrasting delightfully with the blooming
maturity of her formthe man must have been trebly armed indeed in the
modern philosophy who could have denied that the first of a woman's
rights is the right of being beautiful； and the foremost of a woman's merits；
the merit of being young！
The other two persons present at the table were the two gentlemen
who have already appeared on the deck of the yacht。
〃Not a breath of wind stirring！〃 said Richard Turlington。 〃The weather
has got a grudge against us。 We have drifted about four or five miles in the
last eight…and…forty hours。 You will never take another cruise with meyou
must be longing to get on shore。〃
He addressed himself to Natalie； plainly eager to make himself
agreeable to the young ladyand plainly unsuccessful in producing any
impression on her。 She made a civil answer； and looked at her tea…cup；
instead of looking at Richard Turlington。
〃You might fancy yourself on shore at this moment；〃 said Launce。
〃The vessel is as steady as a house； and the swing…table we are eating our
breakfast on is as even as your dining…room table at home。〃
He too addressed himself to Natalie； but without betraying the anxiety
to please her which had been shown by the other。 For all that； _he_
diverted the girl's attention from her tea…cup； and _his_ idea instantly
awakened a responsive idea in Natalie's mind。
〃It will be so strange on shore；〃 she said； 〃to find myself in a room that
never turns on one side； and to sit at a table that never tilts down to my
knees at one time； or rises up to my chin at another。 How I shall miss the
wash of the water at my ear； and the ring of the bell on deck。 when I am
awake at night on land！ No interest there in how the wind blows； or how
the sails are set。 No asking your way of the sun； when you are lost； with a
little brass instrument and a morsel of pencil and paper。 No delightful
wandering wherever the wind takes you； without the worry of planning
beforehand where you are to go。 Oh how I shall miss the dear； changeable；