r, covering his confusion by a
vigorous use of the towel, "I'll ask for it."

He finished dressing in silence and went ashore, and after looking
about him in a perfunctory fashion, strolled off in the direction of
Gravesend. The one gleam of light in his present condition was the
regular habits of schools, and as he went along he blessed the strong
sense of punctuality which possessed the teaching body at four o'clock.

To-day, however, his congratulations were somewhat premature, for long
after the children had come and gone there was no sign of Annis Gething.
He walked up and down the road wondering. Half-past four, five. He
waited until six o'clock--an object of much interest to sundry ladies
who were eyeing him stealthily from their front parlor windows--and was
just going at a quarter-past when he saw her coming towards him.

"Back again," she said as she shook hands.

"Just back," said he.

"No news of my father, I suppose?" said Annis. "None, I'm sorry to say,"
said the skipper. "You're late to-night, aren't you?"

"Rather."

"You look tired," said the skipper with tenderness.

"Well, I'm not," said Annis. "I just stayed and had a cup of tea with
Miss Grattan. Mother has gone out, so I didn't hurry."

"Out now?" inquired he.

Miss Gething nodded brightly, and having by this time reached the corner
of a road, came to a stop.

"I'm not going in just yet," she said, glancing up the road towards her
house. "I'm going for a walk."

"I hope it will be a pleasant one," said Wilson, after a pause, devoted
to wondering whether he might venture to offer to accompany her.
"Goodbye." He held out his hand.

"Good-bye," said Annis; "if you like to call in and wait to see mother
she will be pleased to see you, I'm sure."

"Is there anybody to let me in?" inquired Wilson.

"Mr. Glover is there, I expect," said Annis, looking steadily across the
road.

"I--I'll call another time," said the perplexed Wilson, "but I should
have thought--"

"Thought what?" said she.

"Nothin'," said he. "I--Are you going for a long walk?"

"Not very far," said she. "Why?"

"I suppose you prefer going alone?"

"I don't mind it," said Annis Gothing; "but you can come if you like."

They turned down the road together, and for some time walked on in
silence.

"What was that you were going to say just now?" said Annis, when the
silence threatened to become awkward.

"When?" said Wilson.

"When I told you that Mr. Glover