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appeared quite enthusiastic about the trip； said he should enjoy it himself。
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We came to the question of victualling； and he grew more enthusiastic。
The amount of food suggested by Mr。 Goyles； I confess； surprised me。
Had we been living in the days of Drake and the Spanish Main； I should
have feared he was arranging for something illegal。 However； he
laughed in his fatherly way； and assured me we were not overdoing it。
Anything left the crew would divide and take home with themit seemed
this was the custom。 It appeared to me that I was providing for this crew
for the winter； but I did not like to appear stingy； and said no more。 The
amount of drink required also surprised me。 I arranged for what I thought
we should need for ourselves； and then Mr。 Goyles spoke up for the crew。
I must say that for him； he did think of his men。
〃We don't want anything in the nature of an orgie； Mr。 Goyles；〃 I
suggested。
〃Orgie！〃 replied Mr。 Goyles； 〃why they'll take that little drop in their
tea。〃
He explained to me that his motto was； Get good men and treat them
well。
〃They work better for you；〃 said Mr。 Goyles； 〃and they come again。〃
Personally； I didn't feel I wanted them to come again。 I was
beginning to take a dislike to them before I had seen them； I regarded
them as a greedy and guzzling crew。 But Mr。 Goyles was so cheerfully
emphatic； and I was so inexperienced； that again I let him have his way。
He also promised that even in this department he would see to it
personally that nothing was wasted。
I also left him to engage the crew。 He said he could do the thing； and
would； for me； with the help two men and a boy。 If he was alluding to
the clearing up of the victuals and drink； I think he was making an under…
estimate； but possibly he may have been speaking of the sailing of the
yacht。
I called at my tailors on the way home and ordered a yachting suit；
with a white hat； which they promised to bustle up and have ready in time；
and then I went home and told Ethelbertha all I had done。 Her delight was
clouded by only one reflectionwould the dressmaker be able to finish a
yachting costume for her in time？ That is so like a woman。
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Our honeymoon； which had taken place not very long before； had been
somewhat curtailed； so we decided we would invite nobody； but have the
yacht to ourselves。 And thankful I am to Heaven that we did so decide。
On Monday we put on all our clothes and started。 I forget what
Ethelbertha wore； but； whatever it may have been； it looked very fetching。
My own costume was a dark blue trimmed with a narrow white braid；
which； I think； was rather effective。
Mr。 Goyles met us on deck； and told us that lunch was ready。 I must
admit Goyles had secured the services of a very fair cook。 The capabilities
of the other members of the crew I had no opportunity of judging。
Speaking of them in a state of rest； however； I can say of them they
appeared to be a cheerful crew。
My idea had been that so soon as the men had finished their dinner we
would weigh anchor； while I； smoking a cigar； with Ethelbertha by my
side； would lean over the gunwale and watch the white cliffs of the
Fatherland sink imperceptibly into the horizon。 Ethelbertha and I carried
out our part of the programme； and waited； with the deck to ourselves。
〃They seem to be taking their time；〃 said Ethelbertha。
〃If； in the course of fourteen days；〃 I said； 〃they eat half of what is on
this yacht； they will want a fairly long time for every meal。 We had
better not hurry them； or they won't get through a quarter of it。〃
〃They must have gone to sleep；〃 said Ethelbertha； later on。 〃It will
be tea…time soon。〃
They were certainly very quiet。 I went for'ard； and hailed Captain
Goyles down the ladder。 I hailed him three times； then he came up
slowly。 He appeared to be a heavier and older man than when I had seen
him last。 He had a cold cigar in his mouth。
〃When you are ready； Captain Goyles；〃 I said； 〃we'll start。〃
Captain Goyles removed the cigar from his mouth。
〃Not to…day we won't； sir；〃 he replied； 〃WITH your permission。〃
〃Why； what's the matter with to…day？〃 I said。 I know sailors are a
superstitious folk； I thought maybe a Monday might be considered
unlucky。
〃The day's all right；〃 answered Captain Goyles； 〃it's the wind I'm a…
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thinking of。 It don't look much like changing。〃
〃But do we want it to change？〃 I asked。 〃It seems to me to be just
where it should be； dead behind us。〃
〃Aye； aye；〃 said Captain Goyles； 〃dead's the right word to use； for
dead we'd all be； bar Providence； if we was to put out in this。 You see； sir；〃
he explained； in answer to my look of surprise； 〃this is what we call a 'land
wind；' that is； it's a…blowing； as one might say； direct off the land。〃
When I came to think of it the man was right； the wind was blowing
off the land。
〃It may change in the night；〃 said Captain Goyles； more hopefully
〃anyhow； it's not violent； and she rides well。〃
Captain Goyles resumed his cigar； and I returned aft； and explained to
Ethelbertha the reason for the delay。 Ethelbertha； who appeared to be
less high spirited than when we first boarded； wanted to know WHY we
couldn't sail when the wind was off the land。
〃If it was not blowing off the land；〃 said Ethelbertha； 〃it would be
blowing off the sea； and that would send us back into the shore again。 It
seems to me this is just the very wind we want。〃
I said： 〃That is your inexperience； love； it SEEMS to be the very
wind we want； but it is not。 It's what we call a land wind； and a land
wind is always ver