“I don’t mean to say anything of the sort.  I simply say that Major Mallett and I have always been great friends, and we are so now.  There is no one that I have a higher regard for.”

“Well, Bertha, I do not want to know your secrets, if you do not wish to tell me.  All that I can say is that, if you have refused him, you have done a very foolish thing.  I don’t know any man that a woman might be happier with.  When we were out last year with you, Amy and I agreed that it was certain to come off, and thought how well suited you were to each other.  Of course, in worldly respects, you might do better; just at present you have the ball at your feet; but choose where you may you will not find a finer fellow than he is.  Yes, I told Harry that it was lucky that I had not made that trip on board the Osprey before I was irrevocably captured, for I should certainly have lost my heart to Major Mallett.  Well, I am sorry, Bertha, more sorry than I can say; and I am sure that Amy will be, too.”

“I said nothing whatever, Carrie, that would justify this little explosion, which I certainly don’t intend to answer.  I should really feel very vexed, if I were not perfectly sure that you would never tell anyone else of this notion that you have got in your head.”

“You may be quite sure of that, Bertha.  At least when I say no one else, of course I do not include Harry; but you know him well enough to be certain that it will not go further.  I am sure he will be as disappointed as I am.  In fact, he will have a small triumph over me, for after the usual manner of men he saw nothing on board the yacht, and has always maintained that it was pure fancy on my part.  However, I won’t tell anyone else, not even Amy.  She can find it out for herself, which you may be sure she will do when she comes back from the continent, if indeed her own happiness with Jack has not blinded her to all sub-lunary matters.

“Well, goodbye, dear.  You will forgive my saying that I am disappointed in you, terribly disappointed in you.”

“I must try to put up with that, Carrie.  I am not aware that you consulted me before you made your own matrimonial arrangements, and perhaps I may be able to manage my own.’’

“Well, don’t be cross, Bertha.  Remember that I am not advising or counselling.  I am simply regretting, which perhaps you may do yourself, some day or other.”

And with this parting shot she left.

The weeks went on, and when May came and Frank told her that the Osprey was fitted out, and that he would join her in a day or two, Bertha heard the news with satisfaction.  The season was a gay one, and she was enjoying herself greatly; the one little drop of bitterness in her cup being that she could no longer enjoy his visits as she formerly did.  He had been the one man with whom she was able to talk and laugh quite freely, who was really an old friend, a link not only between her and the past, but between her and her country life.