was crowded with guests, many had been let for the week at fabulous rates, the town was bright with flags, and a great fleet of yachts was moored off the town, extending from the pier we

y Greendale, saying that they had arrived with Lord Haverley's party the day before, and enclosing an invitation from him to dinner that day. He went up to c

s no use asking you and Bertha t

a fortnight since to sail on the Phantom. Lady Olive Marston and her cousin, Miss Haverley, are also going. I know that it is not very usual f

a small boat it would be different, but in a craft like the Phantom there is ple

mewhat hastily, for he saw a group comin

and two other ladies, C

suit you, Frank?" Lady G

aged all through the

quietly, "but perhaps it

as the party from the garden ent

s, universally used by them, were going from shop to shop; groups of sailors were chatting over the events of the day; and carriages were standing before the fishmongers', poulterers', and fruit and flower shops, while th

l turned to the right and kept on until he came to a large house embowered in trees. Breakfast was just over when a servant

rankly, for he was a great favourite of hers; "I suppos

I have come to you. It is on my own account that I

se. "I will come out into the garden. We are

gether. George did not attempt to speak until they reache

, George,

would rather stand," and he

ful for me to have to tell it, and it will be painful f

, but looked at him with ey

told you that the bad wound he received at Delhi that all but kille

o. I suppose he was in front of you, a

ate aim at him, and it was only the

ised and shocked to

d it was only when I sent for him, believing that I had receiv

made you do this terrible thing?

soldiers had known it, and I had escaped being hung for it, I should have been shot the first time I went in

ould not have been drinking at that time of the morning, and she would have doubte

o tell you why

ness of mine. I know that whatever it was Major Mallett mus

ray you to listen to me. You have heard of Martha Bennett, the poor girl

k about it. It was never

fterwards, but only to die. It was about the time that Sir J

on, and I did not make enough allowance for her being young and naturally fond of admiration. I quar

n her talking to Major Mallett, and of the conversation he had over

could I suppose but that he had ruined my poor girl, and had persuaded her to go out to join him in India? I waited for a time, while they searched for the body I knew they would never find. My own father

ul!" the gi

from being a murderer. As I told you, I was badly wounded. I thought I was going to die, and the doctor thought so, too. So I sent for Captain Mallett t

has kept his word. I wanted to leave the regiment. I felt that I could never mix with my comrades, knowing as I did that I had tried to murder their favourite officer. But the Major would not hear of it. He insisted that I should stay, and, even more, he promised that as soon as I

mentioned that another gentleman had left the neighbourhood and gone abroad, just at the time that Major Mallet

her mother the name of her destroyer, who deserted her three months after he had taken her away. When he came back from abroad her father and mine and some others met him at Chippenham market. They attacked

ve heard that you know the man, and I thought you ought

on, and when he ended, she sat still and silent for

n telling me this story; it is one that I

u; for he had no actual proof, save the dying girl's words and what I had seen and heard; and his motive in telling it might have been misunderstood.

tried to show my gratitude to him, it was still painful to me to have to tell the story to anyone else. But I felt that I ought to do it-not for his sake, because he has told me that what I had looked for and what he had so hoped fo

aid, quietly. "You have do

ces were heard at the o

g the opportunity of getting away; and turning

averley said, laughingly, as she met

er?" she exclaimed, as sh

esterday; and it is very warm this morning, too. I am better now, and it will soon p

ought me up a message, but as I know all the men on the Osprey, and have no

ley said. "You know we shall leave in half an hour for t

s Haverley that she felt quite herself now, and that she was sure that the sea air would set her up altogether. The schooner

irections, for a light air had only

und with the race to see how she did. I think you young ladies will have a very good chance of being able to boast that you have sailed in the yacht that won the Queen's Cup. I fancy it lies between her and the Osprey. Mallett is getting up sail

gun. They are all clo

about the start of race horses, it is no mor

s, their schooner dropped anchor near the O

board the Osprey, Lord

have ever before been in any por

minutes, on our way to shore? Mamma and I are very fond

to say, we cannot invade him in a body, but those of us who know Mallett can go on

e and Bertha, and two others of the party were rowed to th

ry interest in the Osprey, because the latter is her godmother. Indeed, we are all naturally interested in her, too, as

ke a race occasionally, that was not my primary object. I wanted her for cruising, and there is no doubt

returning on deck, sat down and chatt

riday," Lady Greendale said. "Our sympathies are

dale, but I am by no m

iss Greendale will see the winning flag

rd is better than that of the Phantom. She has done well in the two or three races she ha

der a lucky star; and though my own opinion is that if the Phantom were i

not have given you credit fo

y superstitions, but I own to

efore the gig returned from the shore,

l not have your good wi

ard the Phantom because I was invited there before you asked me, but my hope is that t

ning early," he replied. "W

; please ask

e together into the sitting room into which Fra

e early

to do, and I am always contented when I am under sail. As I shan't have time to come in tomorrow morning, f

utes, Lady Greendale made so

ming, and that I wanted to

thing of importance?"

ted and th

ber when we sat next to each other in the twilight, the day before you went to India? We were talking

r," he sai

hought always would beat you, if you came in contact ag

then, Bertha, and you surely ca

ct you to

s due to foul play, that most of the others were simply due to the fact that he was a better man than I was. The matter has long since been forgotten, and, whoever it is, I would not prejudice him in the opi

wanted to see you for. What you said yesterday brought that talk we had so vividly into my mind that I could not resist asking you. It explained what seemed to me at the time to be strange; how it was

mile, and then added somewhat bitterly; "You see things since hav

s pause he said, "Well, as Lady Greend

ball tomorrow evening,

h mind I feel sure that I shan't, it will seem odd if

g your word, Major Mallett. You said that you would always be the same to me, and you a

present it is beyond me. I cannot stand by

come right in time, but at any rate I

r time to reply, he h

inute or two, then quietly

Rhodope, the Isobel, and the Mayflower; four cutters––the Pearl, the Chrysalis, the Alacrity, and the Phantom;

mpton water, they were coming up from Cowes, and some were making t

xtra hands as last time?

course if there is anything to be done aloft, our own men

neighbourhood of the starting line; and as the five-minutes gun fired, t

e Osprey, the three ladies waved their han

Bertha called out, as the

h or south, so that we could have laid our course all round; as it is, we shall have the wind almost dead aft till we are round the Nab, then we shall be close-hauled, with perhaps an occasional tack along the back of the is

nutes ar

hand, and after a short pause

was of comparatively little consequence. She was nearly in a line with th

d the men stationed there hauled on the rope until

nk (who had just called ou

at we shall

tter n

skipper said ten secon

s more," Frank

away handsomely. Up foresail,

ided on with accelerated speed, and the end of the bowsprit

ank said, as he looked

them, and then the cutters began to show a little in front. Their long booms gave them an advantage over the schooners and the yawl when before the wind; the spinnaker was n

schooners fell into their wake as soon as they were able to do so, thus robbing them of some of their wind. The Osprey, having the inside stati

ns said in delight. "The schooners are smothe

f room when we get

I won't risk a foul,

elling on an almost even keel. Miss Haverley and Lady Olive uttered exclamations of satisfaction as the Phantom slowly drew ah

l cannot sail well herself, that she should be allow

we should do the same if a boat had got ahead of us. Still, it

. "She is coming up fast; you see, she has nothing be

fidently. "The race won't really begin until we are round the Nab, and after that

quick succession. The sheets were hauled in, and the yachts were able to lie close-hauled for Ventnor. The three leading boats maintained

We have a long way to go yet, and once round the po

nd the yachts began to throw the spray over the bows. Bertha was struck w

e is a race there even in the calmest weather, and I should advise you to get y

he was a good quarter of a mile to the good. Still Carthew maintained his good temper, but Bertha could see that it was with an

a spar before long," he said. "The wind is freshening,

he ladies carried their footstools up to windward, when the vessel was for a moment on an even keel. When there they we

y. "That does for her chance. I think I had better get the jib head

get it up at once, captain. I

me down, the Osprey's was seen

waiting for us,"

He was still intently w

" the captain went on. "He w

there was an expression of anxiety in it. Three minutes later, he ga

he bowsprit of the Osprey swing to leeward, an

w said, exultingly. "A race i

d. "I do think it is hard to

e counts on. If it were not for that risk, yachts would always carry on too long. It is a matter of judgment and of

nning the cup by arriving first at the flag boat. However, I a

course, I have seen scores of races, and whenever there is any wind someone is always sure to lose

the Needles, it will be a broad reach, and you will see that the schooners will come up