In the meanwhile the talk proceeded among the other persons at the breakfast-table. Miss Lavinia addressed herself to Launce.
“Do you know, you careless boy, you gave me a fright this morning? I was sleeping with my cabin window open, and I was awoke by an awful splash in the water. I called for the stewardess. I declare I thought somebody had fallen overboard!”
Sir Joseph looked up briskly; his sister had accidentally touched on an old association.
“Talk of falling overboard,” he began, “reminds me of an extraordinary adventure—”
There Launce broke in, making his apologies.
“It shan’t occur again, Miss Lavinia,” he said. “To-morrow morning I’ll oil myself all over, and slip into the water as silently as a seal.”
“Of an extraordinary adventure,” persisted Sir Joseph, “which happened
