He did not go ashore again until he landed, at half-past ten, at
the clubhouse. Every window was lit up, and dancing had begun an
hour before. Frank at once obtained a partner, in order to avoid
having to talk the unpleasant business over with yachting friends.
Presently he sat down by the side of Lady Greendale.
"I am so sorry, Frank," she said. "It does seem hard when you had
set your mind on it."
"I had hoped to win," he said, "but it is not as bad as all that
after all. It would have been more mortifying to lose because the
Osprey was not fast enough, than to lose from an accident, when she
had already proved herself to be the best in the race. You know
that I never went in for being a racing yachtsman. I look upon
racing as being a secondary part of yachting. I can assure you, I
don't feel that I am greatly to be pitied. It might have been
better, and it might have been a great deal worse."
"Well, I am glad that you take it in that way," she said. "I can
assure you that I was greatly upset over it when I heard it."
He sat chatting with her for some time. Presently Bertha was
brought back by her partner to her mother's side.
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