'm tired and worried."

"I see you was," said his uncle, amiably, "but your aunt's a wonderful
woman. She's got a business 'ead, and we're doing well. I'm buying
another schooner, and you can 'ave her or have the Foam back, which you
like."

Flower thanked him warmly, and, Mrs. Barber returning, he noticed with
some surprise the evident happiness of the couple for whose marriage he
was primarily responsible. He had to go over his adventures again
and again, Captain Barber causing much inconvenience and delay at
supper-time by using the beer-jug to represent the _Golden Cloud_ and
a dish of hot sausages the unknown craft which sank her. Flower was
uncertain which to admire most: the tactful way in which Mrs. Barber
rescued the sausages or the readiness with which his uncle pushed a
plate over a fresh stain on the tablecloth.

Supper finished, he sat silently thinking of Poppy, not quite free from
the fear that she might have followed him to New Zealand by another
boat. The idea made him nervous, and the suspense became unendurable.
He took up his cap and strolled out into the stillness of the evening.
Sea-bridge seemed strange to him after his long absence, and, under
present conditions, melancholy. There was hardly a soul to be seen, but
a murmur of voices came through the open windows of the Thorn, and a
clumsy cart jolted and creaked its way up the darkening road.

He stood for some time looking down on the quay, and the shadowy shapes
of one or two small craft lying in the river. The _Foam_ was in her old
berth, and a patch of light aft showed that the cabin was occupied. He
walked down to her, and stepping noiselessly aboard, peered through
the open skylight at Ben, as he sat putting a fresh patch in a pair of
trousers. It struck him that the old man might know something of the
events which had led up to Fraser's surprising marriage, and, his
curiosity being somewhat keen on the point, he descended to glean
particulars.

Ben's favourite subject was the misdeeds of the crew, and the steps
which a kind but firm mate had to take to control them, and he left it
unwillingly to discuss Fraser's marriage, of which faint rumours
had reached his ears. It was evident that he knew nothing of the
particulars, and Flower with some carefulness proceeded to put leading
questions.

"Did you ever see anything more of those women who used to come down to
the ship after a man named Robinson?" he enquired, carelessly.

"They c