CHAPTER LXIV
When Mildred received Lady Bellamy's telegram, she was so sure that itwould prove the forerunner of Arthur's arrival at Madeira that she hadat once set about making arrangements for his amusement.
It so happened that there was at the time a very beautiful sea-goingsteam yacht of about two hundred and fifty tons burden lying in theroadstead. She belonged to a nobleman who was suddenly recalled toEngland by mail-steamer, and, through a series of chances, Mildred wasenabled to buy her a bargain. The crew of the departed nobleman alsocontinued in her service.
The morning after the storm broke sweet and clear, and, except thatthe flowers were somewhat shattered, all Nature looked the fresher forits violent visitation. Arthur, who had come up early to the Quinta,Mildred, and Miss Terry were all seated at breakfast in a room thatlooked out to the sea, which, although the wind had died away, stillran rather high. They made a pretty picture as they sat round theEnglish-looking breakfast-table, with the light pouring in upon themfrom the open windows, Miss Terry, with her usual expression of good-humoured solemnity, pouring out the tea, and Mildred and Arthur, whosat exactly opposite to each other, drinking it. Never had the formerlooked more lovely than she did that morning.
"My dear," said Agatha to her, "what have you done to yourself? Youlook beautiful."
"Do I, dear? Then it is because I am happy."
Agatha was quite right, thought Arthur, she did look beautiful, therewas such depth and rest in her clear eyes, such a wealth of happytriumph written on her features. She might have sat that morning as astudy of the "Venus Victrix." Her talk, too, was as bright as herself.She laughed and shone and sparkled like the rain-drops on the bamboosprays that rocked in the sunshine, and whenever she addressed herselfto Arthur, which was often enough, every sentence seemed wrapped intender meaning. Her whole life went out towards him, a palpable thing;she waited on his words and basked in his smile. Mildred Carr didnothing by halves.
Arthur was the least cheerful of the three, though at times he triedhis best to join in Mildred's merriment. Any one who knew him wellcould have told that he was suffering from one of his fits ofconstitutional melancholy, and a physiognomist, looking at thesomewhat dreamy eyes and pensive face, would probably have added thathe neither was nor ever would be an entirely happy man.
By degrees, however, he seemed to get the better of his thoughts,whatever they might be.
"Now, Arthur, if you are quite awake," began, or rather went on,Mildred, "perhaps you will come to the window. I have something toshow you."
"Here I am at your service; what may it be?"
"Good. Now look; do you see that little vessel in the bay beneaththere to the right of Leeuw Rock?"
"Yes, and uncommonly pretty she is; what of her?"
"What of her? Why, she is my yacht."
"Your yacht?"
"Goodness gracious, Mildred, you don't mean to say that you've beenbuying a yacht and told me nothing about it? Just think! Well, I callthat sly."
"Yes, my dear Agatha, I have; a yacht and a ready-made crew, and thevery prettiest saloon in the world, and sleeping-cabins that you willthink it an honour to be sea-sick in, and a cook's galley with brightcopper fittings, and a cook with a white cap, and steam-steering gearif you care to use it, and----"
"For goodness sake, don't overwhelm us; and what are you going to dowith your white elephant, now that you have got it?"
"Do with it? why, ride on it, of course. 'Ladies and gentlemen,' orrather 'lady and gentleman.' Attention! You will both be in marching,or rather in sailing, order by four this afternoon, for at five westart for the Canaries. Now, no remarks; I'm a skipper, and I expectto be obeyed, or I'll put you in irons."
"You've done that already," said Arthur, _sotto voce_.
"Mildred, I won't go, and that's flat."
"My dear, you mean that you are afraid of being flat. But, Agatha,seriously, you must come; nobody is sick in those semi-tropicalwaters, and, if you won't, I suppose it would not be quite the thingfor Arthur and I to go alone. And then, my dear, just think what asplendid place the Canaries must be for insects."
"Why?" asked Agatha, solemnly.
"Because of all the little birds it has to support."
"But I thought they lived on hemp-seed."
"Oh, no--not in their native land."
"Well, I suppose I must go; but I really believe that you will kill mewith your mania for sea-voyages, Mildred. I suppose you will take toballooning next."
"That is by no means a bad idea; I should like to see you in aballoon, Agatha."
"Mildred, I know where to draw the line. Into a balloon I will nevergo. I have been into a Madeira sledge, and that is quite enough forme. I always dream about it twice a week."
"Well, my dear, I promise never to ask you when I want to goballooning; Arthur and I will go by ourselves. It would be a grandopportunity for a tete-a-tete. And now go and see about getting thethings ready--there's a dear; and, Arthur, do you send John down toMiles' for your portmanteau."
"Hadn't I better go and see about it myself?"
"Certainly not; I want you to help me, and come down and talk to theskipper, for he will be under your orders, you know. He is such adelightful sailor-man, perfect down to his quid, and always says, 'Ay,ay,' in the orthodox fashion. Certainly you must not go; I will nottrust you out of my sight--you might run away and leave me alone, andthen what should I do?"
Arthur laughed and acquiesced. Sitting down, he wrote a note askingthe manager of the hotel to send his things up to the Quinta Carr,together with his account, as he was leaving Madeira for the present.
The rest of the morning was spent by everybody in busy preparation.Boxes were packed and provisions shipped sufficient to victual anArctic expedition. At last everything was ready, and at a little afterthree they went down the steps leading to the tiny bay, and, embarkingon the smart boat that was waiting for them, were conveyed in safetyto the _Evening Star_, for such was the yacht's name. Arthur suggestedthat it should be changed to the _Mildred Carr_, and got snubbed forhis pains.
The _Evening Star_ was a beautiful craft, built on fine lines, but forall that a wonderful boat in a heavy sea. She was a three-mastedschooner, square-rigged forward, of large beam. Her fittings belowwere perfect down to the painted panels after Watteau in the saloonand the electric bells, and she was rigged either to sail or steam asmight be most convenient. On the present occasion, as there was notthe slightest hurry and no danger of a lee-shore, it was determinedthat they should not avail themselves of the steam-power, so thepropeller was hoisted up and everything got ready for that mostdelightful thing, a long cruise under canvas.
Arthur was perfectly charmed with everything he saw, and so was AgathaTerry, until they got under way, when she discovered that a mail-steamer was a joke compared with the yacht in the matter of motion. Inshort, the unfortunate Agatha was soon reduced to her normal conditionof torpor. Mildred always declared that she hibernated on board shiplike a dormouse or a bear. She was not very sea-sick, she simply layand slept, eating very little and thinking not at all.
"By the way," said Arthur, as they sailed out of the bay, "I nevergave any directions about my letters."
"Oh! that will not matter," answered Mildred, carelessly, for theywere leaning over the taffrail together; "they will keep them for youat 'Miles' Hotel.' But, my dear boy, do you know what time it is? Tenminutes to seven; that dreadful bell with be going in a minute, andthe soup will be spoiled. Run and get ready, do."
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