“She has not given me fair play,” was the reply.  “If I am to be refused, why must I take it from another’s lips?  Give me the chance to open my heart to her, and I will be satisfied.”

“Well, Mr. McNeil, I wish you well; but she must choose as she likes.  What is the water like to-day?”

“Smooth as a mill-pond; scarcely a ripple,” was the reply, as he followed Mr. Sherwood into the next room.

“I have called to see if you will go for a sail, Miss Dexie,” said Mr. McNeil, as he entered the room and seated himself beside her.  “You have not been on the water for some time; it is a pity to miss this fine afternoon.”

Gussie knew very well that she was not included in the invitation; but she had no intention of being left out, so she eagerly answered: 

“Oh, yes, of course we will go; it will be lovely and cool on the water this hot afternoon.”

Hugh knew it would be useless to hint that it was Dexie alone he wanted, but he meant to get rid of her society somehow.

“You have not said if you would go, Dexie,” said Hugh, looking intently into her face.

“Oh, yes! certainly.  I shall be delighted to go, if Gussie thinks she will not get sick.”

“I don’t think Gussie was included in the invitation,” said Mr. Sherwood, looking up from his paper as he became aware of the situation.

“But of course it was understood; I would not go without her,” said Dexie.  “What time shall we be ready?”

“I will call in half an hour,” and Hugh left the room with his heavy brow drawn into a decided frown.

During the walk to the wharf Hugh was so silent that Gussie began to banter him on his gloomy countenance.

“You don’t look as if you enjoyed the prospect of an afternoon on the water, after all!” she said, laughing.

Hugh took no notice of her remarks, but handed the girls into the boat, threw the shawls on a seat, and shoved off.

“I hope the wind will rise a little,” said Dexie, as they seated themselves.  “You will find it rather tiresome to row all the time.”

“We will catch a slight breeze after we get out a bit,” replied Hugh.

But Gussie no sooner felt the motion of the boat than she repented her decision in coming.  She was a veritable coward on the water; the least ripple made her shrink with fear, and nothing but her anxiety to keep Hugh and Dexie apart would have allowed her to overcome her dread.  But once on the water, fear and sickness overmastered all else.

“Oh! do be careful!” she cried in alarm, as Hugh stepped forward to adjust the sail, causing the little craft to dip slightly on one side.

“No danger, Gussie,” said Dexie; “the boat will not tip as easily as you suppose.”

“But do you not think it is getting rough?” she asked, as a slight ripple came towards them.  “Oh!  I wish I had not come.  Do let us go back.”

“The idea!  Why, we have not been out ten minutes,” said Dexie, who thoroughly enjoyed the motion that sent the color from Gussie’s face.  “Gussie, are you frightened, or sick?” she added, looking into her sister’s face.