"And so you have bought a yacht, Major Mallett ?" "Yes; at least she is scarcely a yacht yet.

I was going to have one built, but I heard of one that had been ordered by Lord Haverstock, who, they say, has been so hard hit at the Derby that he had to tell Wanhill, the builder, that he could not take her.

As the season was getting rather late, the man was glad to sell her a bargain, especially as he had already got a thousand pounds towards her; so I got her for twelve hundred less that Haverstock was to have paid.

It suited me admirably, for he has engaged to finish her in six weeks.

She is just about the size I wanted, 120 tons, and looks as if she would turn out fast, and a good sea boat.