Page:Barbour--Peggy in the rain.djvu/202

 palace that Gordon's father had built almost thirty years ago. The occupants of the luxurious staterooms had changed from time to time during the cruise and now of the party of eight on board only Gordon himself remained of those who had set sail from Newport. Mortimer Poole and his bride—he had married Sallie Craig in Philadelphia in June—were ashore with Mrs. Craig's sister, Gwen, and Lieutenant Haight, on leave of absence from the Torpedo Station at Newport. Mrs. Morrill and Leona were below, doubtless evening up for sleep lost last night when an affair at the Wentworth had kept all hands on shore until three o'clock.

Stretched in deck chairs under the green and white awning lay Gordon and Peter, Gordon a little more tanned, a little thinner, a little graver than in May; Peter a little stouter and much more contented. His engagement to Leona had been announced in June and Peter declared that they were now on their trial honeymoon. They had joined the Siren at Bar Harbor four days ago, and Mrs. Morrill, a poor sailor, had been lamenting the fact ever since. Since the engagement Peter had formed the habit of wearing a perpetual grin,