Soon after her keel had ceased to grind upon the gravel, Albert jumped out, and, standing over boot-top in water, waved his hat and wished them a pleasant voyage, and all the ladies in the boat waved their handkerchiefs at him, appreciating his efforts to keep the boat from being overloaded, but not thinking of the stronger motive Charlton had for keeping Smith Westcott ashore.

They could not know how much exultation Albert felt as he sat down on the green grass and poured the water from his boots.
There was a fine breeze, the boat sailed admirably, the party aboard laughed and talked and sang; their voices made merry music that reached the shore.

The merry music was irritating discord to the ears of Westcott, it made him sweur bitterly at Charlton.

I am afraid that it made Charlton happy to think of Westcott swearing at him.

There is great comfort in being the object of an enemy's curses sometimes--When the enemy is down, and you are above and master.