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instant。
The secretary filed his report first。 〃A yacht's just anchored in the
bay； Sir Charles；〃 he said。
The orderly's face fell。 He looked aggrieved。 〃An American yacht；〃
he corrected。
〃And much larger than the Partridge；〃 continued the secretary。
The orderly took a hasty glance back over his shoulder。 〃She has her
launch lowered already； sir；〃 he said。
Outside the whir of the lawn…mower continued undisturbed。 Sir
Charles reached for his marine…glass； and the three men hurried to the
veranda。
〃It looks like a man…of…war；〃 said Sir Charles。 〃No；〃 he added；
adjusting the binocular； 〃she's a yacht。 She flies the New York Yacht
Club pennantnow she's showing the owner's absent pennant。
He must have left in the launch。 He's coming ashore now。〃
〃He seems in a bit of a hurry；〃 growled Mr。 Clarges。
〃Those Americans always〃 murmured Sir Charles from behind the
binocular。 He did not quite know that he enjoyed this sudden onslaught
upon the privacy of his harbor and port。
It was in itself annoying； and he was further annoyed to find that it
could in the least degree disturb his poise。
The launch was growing instantly larger； like an express train
approaching a station at full speed； her flags flew out as flat as pieces of
painted tin； her bits of brass…work flashed like fire。 Already the ends of
the wharves were white with groups of natives。
〃You might think he was going to ram the town；〃 suggested the
secretary。
〃Oh； I say；〃 he exclaimed； in remonstrance； 〃he's making in for your
private wharf。〃
The Governor was rearranging the focus of the glass with nervous
fingers。 〃I believe；〃 he said； 〃noyesupon my word； there arethere
are ladies in that launch！〃
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〃Ladies； sir！〃 The secretary threw a hasty glance at the binocular； but
it was in immediate use。
The clatter of the lawn…mower ceased suddenly； and the relief of its
silence caused the Governor to lower his eyes。 He saw the lawn…mower
lying prostrate on the grass。 The vagrant had vanished。
There was a sharp tinkle of bells； and the launch slipped up to the
wharf and halted as softly as a bicycle。 A man in a yachting…suit jumped
from her； and making some laughing speech to the two women in the stern；
walked briskly across the lawn； taking a letter from his pocket as he came。
Sir Charles awaited him gravely； the occupants of the launch had seen him；
and it was too late to retreat。
〃Sir Charles Greville； I believe；〃 said the yachtsman。 He bowed； and
ran lightly up the steps。 〃I am Mr。 Robert Collier； from New York；〃 he
said。 〃I have a letter to you from your ambassador at Washington。 If
you'll pardon me； I'll present it in person。 I had meant to leave it； but
seeing you〃 He paused； and gave the letter in his hand to Sir Charles；
who waved him towards his library。
Sir Charles scowled at the letter through his monocle； and then shook
hands with his visitor。 〃I am very glad to see you； Mr。 Collier；〃 he said。
〃He says here you are preparing a book on our colonies in the West
Indies。〃 He tapped the letter with his monocle。 〃I am sure I shall be
most happy to assist you with any information in my power。〃
〃Well； I am writing a bookyes；〃 Mr。 Collier observed； doubtfully；
〃but it's a logbook。 This trip I am on pleasure bent； and I also wish to
consult with you on a personal matter。 However； that can wait。〃 He
glanced out of the windows to where the launch lay in the sun。 〃My wife
came ashore with me； Sir Charles；〃 he said； 〃so that in case there was a
Lady Greville； Mrs。 Collier could call on her； and we could ask if you
would waive etiquette and do us the honor to dine with us to…night on the
yachtthat is； if you are not engaged。〃
Sir Charles smiled。 〃There is no Lady Greville；〃 he said； 〃and I
personally do not think I am engaged elsewhere。〃 He paused in thought；
as though to make quite sure he was not。 〃No；〃 he added； 〃I have no
other engagement。 I will come with pleasure。〃
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Sir Charles rose and clapped his hands for the orderly。 〃Possibly the
ladies will come up to the veranda？〃 he asked。 〃I cannot allow them to
remain at the end of my wharf。〃 He turned； and gave directions to the
orderly to bring limes and bottles of soda and ice； and led the way across
the lawn。
Mrs。 Collier and her friend had not explored the grounds of
Government House for over ten minutes before Sir Charles felt that many
years ago he had personally arranged their visit； that he had known them
for even a longer time； and that； now that they had finally arrived； they
must never depart。
To them there was apparently nothing on his domain which did not
thrill with delightful interest。 They were as eager as two children at a
pantomime； and as unconscious。 As a rule； Sir Charles had found it
rather difficult to meet the women of his colony on a path which they were
capable of treading intelligently。 In fairness to them； he had always
sought out some topic in which they could take an equal partsomething
connected with the conduct of children； or the better ventilation of the new
school…house and chapel。 But these new…comers did not require him to
select topics of conversation； they did not even wait for him to finish those
which he himself introduced。 They flitted from one end of the garden to
the other with the eagerness of two midshipmen on shore leave； and they
found something to enjoy in what seemed to the Governor the most
commonplace of things。 The Zouave uniform of the sentry； the old
Spanish cannon converted into peaceful gate…posts； the aviary with its
screaming paroquets； th