I've come to take you Home." It was Heywood's turn to be struck dumb.

He grew very pale.
"Oh, I say," he stammered at last, "it's not fair--" "Don't spoil the happiest evening--" whispered the girl beside him.
He eyed her ruefully, groaned, then springing up, went swiftly to the head of the table and wrung the captain's brown paw, without a word to say.
"Can do, can do," said Captain Kneebone, curtly.

"I was afraid ye might not want to come." Then followed a whirlwind; and Teppich rose with his moustache bristling, and the ready Nesbit jerked him down again in the opening sentence; and everybody laughed at Heywood, who sat there so white, with such large eyes; and the dinner going by on the wings of night, the melancholy "boy" circled the table, all too soon, with a new silver casket full of noble cigars from Paiacombo, Manila, and Dindigul.
As the three ladies passed the foot of the table, Rudolph saw Mrs.
Forrester make an angry signal.

And presently, like a prisoner going to his judge, Chantel slipped out of the room.

He was not missed; for already the streaming candle-flames stood wreathed in blue layers, nor was it long before the captain, mounting his chair, held a full glass aloft.
"Here," he cried in triumph, "here's to every nail in the hoof--" The glass crashed into splinters and froth.