IX
THE “BALLOON”
Viewed close at hand, the “Balloon” was as flawless as when seen from the water’s edge.
“I’m in constant fear of scratching the paint,” exclaimed Nora, moving about gingerly on the bright deck.
“I never saw anything quite so shiny,” she continued, pointing to the polished brass hand-rail.
“There is n’t a speck of dust anywhere on the woodwork, and the sails look as if they had just come from a laundry. Your skipper must work hard.”
“Oh, the men on a boat like this have so little to do most of the time, that it would be a pity if they could n’t at least, keep things clean.”
“Are n’t you coming below?” called Nora from the cabin door.
“Why, yes,” replied Brenda. “Come on, Julia.”
Descending into the cabin, Brenda, who had been on the “Balloon” before, began to explain its fittings to the others.
“These are transom-seats. You must n’t call them ‘benches,’ or even ‘divans,’ and they are most surprising.”
She lifted one of the green corduroy cushions, and touching a handle, showed that the seats were really great boxes.
