drive
through the devil himself sooner than lose five minutes."

The promise of a long, wet, blank day was not very cheering.  In fact,
this change in the weather was as damping to my spirits as it literally
was to everything else, and as I entered the companion way for shelter,
I felt as though half of a mind to order the yacht to be headed for
some adjacent port.  But a little thinking brought back my resolution
to its old bearings.  It is a hard thing to avow, but I knew that my
very strongest chance of gaining Lady Amelia's consent lay in this sea
trip.  Then again, there might come a break at any moment, with a fine
day of warm sunshine and clear sky to follow.  I re-entered the cabin,
andcaptain," said I, "and he has
been urging me to do the same thing."

"It is ridiculous," said she, holding down her head; "there is no
clergyman in the ship."

"But the captain of a vessel may act as a clergyman under the
circumstances," said I.

"I don't believe it, Herbert."

"But see here, Grace," said I, speaking earnestly but softly, for there
were ears not far distant, "it is not likely that we should regard the
captain's celebration of our marriage here as more than something that
will strengthen our hands for the struggle with your aunt.  Until we
have been joined by a clergyman in proper shipshape fashion, as Captain
Parsons himself might say, we shall not be man and wife; but then, my
darling, consider this: first of all it is in the highest degree
probable that a