"And may Heaven have mercy on our digestions!" added Mrs. Campbell,
rolling up her eyes in horror. "Roast pig in this weather!"
But Laura turned to her younger sister with enthusiasm.
"Do look at ma! Did you ever see her so bright and jolly? She looks
downright pretty. She can hold her own better than I thought she
could."
"You are seeing her under altogether new conditions, you know," said
Mrs. Campbell sweetly, as she stepped off with light tread and
non-committal face towards a merrily-laughing group, further on.
"Now, what did she mean by that?" asked Janet in a puzzled tone. "I do
wish Zaidee wouldn't be so mysterious!"
"Mysterious?" snapped Laura, who was quicker than her sister. "Why not
wish she needn't be so hateful?"
Yet she followed the woman, who could always lead in spite of her
peculiar disposition, because of innate charm and tact.
They found the merriment to be over the fact that Mr. Lawrence had the
smallest score, and must accept his own prize, already in the hands of
Mr. Malcolm.
"Oh, that's too bad!" he cried, weary from his exertions and merriment.
"Why rub it in so hard? Is it not enough to be beaten by these
youngsters--must I also be made the laughing-stock of passengers and
crew? Ah! 'tis indeed a cruelty to load a falling man!"
"Well, uncle, if you're going to quote Wolsey, keep on," laughed his
niece mischievously. "'I charge thee fling away ambition!' You see
you have soared too high, my lord.
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