And now all the world was flocking to Cowes for the regatta, and Lesbia
and her chaperon were established on board Mr. Smithson's yacht, the
_Cayman_; and the captain of the _Cayman_ and all her crew were
delivered over to Lesbia to be her slaves and to obey her lightest
breath. The _Cayman_ was to lie at anchor off Cowes for the regatta
week; and then she was to sail for Hyde, and lie at anchor there for
another regatta week; and she was to be a floating-hotel for Lady Lesbia
so long as the young lady would condescend to occupy her.
The captain was an altogether exceptional captain, and the crew were a
picked crew, ruddy faced, sandy whiskered for the most part, Englishmen
all, honest, hardy fellows from between the Nore and the Wash, talking
in an honest provincial patois, dashed with sea slang. They were the
very pink and pattern of cleanliness, and the _Cayman_ herself from stem
to stern was dazzling and spotless to an almost painful degree.
Not content with the existing arrangements of the yacht, which were at
once elegant and luxurious, Mr.
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