Sabina said practically:

"All that has happened is that Miss Amhurst wishes father to present
her with a ticket to the ball on the 'Consternation,' and taking that
for granted, she requests mother to chaperon her, and further
expresses a desire that I shall be exceedingly polite to her while we
are on board the cruiser."

"Oh," cried Katherine jauntily, "the last proviso is past praying for,
but the other two are quite feasible. I'd be delighted to chaperon
Dorothy myself, and as for politeness, good gracious, I'll be polite
enough to make up for all the courteous deficiency of the rest of the
family.

'For I hold that on the seas,
The expression if you please
A particularly gentlemanly tone implants,
And so do his sisters and his cousins and his aunts.'

Now, Dorothy, don't be bashful. Here's your sister and your cousin and
your aunt waiting for the horrifying revelation. What has happened?"

"I'll tell you what is going to happen, Kate," said the girl, smiling
at the way the other ran on. "Mrs. Captain Kempt will perhaps consent
to take you and me to New York or Boston, where we will put up at the
best hotel, and trick ourselves out in ball costumes that will be the
envy of Bar Harbor. I shall pay the expense of this trip as partial
return for your father's kindness in getting me an invitation and your
mother's kindness in allowing me to be one of your party."