Page:Maud Howe - A Newport Aquarelle.djvu/89

 service. Let us join the others; I think there will be some singing. Somebody has brought Miss Carleton's banjo."

The Englishman was not displeased at the opportunity thus offered of returning to that part of the deck where Gladys Carleton had thrown herself on a pile of ropes. The mast behind her served for a support. She sat in Turk fashion, a thing few women can do with comfort or with grace. At the moment when Larkington approached, Gladys was indulging in the infantile amusement of playing ball with Mr. Silsbee Saltonstall, of Boston. A red apple provided by the steward served for the plaything.

Mr. Saltonstall was a good-looking young fellow of eight and twenty, tall, rather gracefully modelled, with a decidedly handsome head. His was an earnest face, with deep blue near-sighted eyes, blond beard, a wide forehead, and peculiarly sparkling white teeth.

Gladys threw the apple in the most