e value recovered; his plan was to do the job himself,
with cheaper appliances than theirs. The trouble was, he could not go
out and superintend. He was too old, and one ought to be an engineer;
Cartwright had grounds for imagining the job was rather an engineer's
than a sailor's. Well, he knew a young fellow who would not be daunted
and would work for him honestly, but to get the proper man was not all.

He pondered about the money. Somehow he might get the necessary sum, but
if the venture failed, it would be the last. Nobody would trust him
again; he would be forced into retirement and dependence on his wife. It
was a risk he hesitated to run and he resolved to wait.

In the evening after dinner Barbara joined him in the drawing-room, and
Cartwright waited with some amusement, for he thought he knew what she
wanted.

"Did Mr. Lister come to the office?" she asked presently.

"He did come. Did you think he would not?"

"Oh, no!" said Barbara, smiling, "I knew he would come. Mr. Lister is
like that!"

"I suppose you mean he's honest?"

"I think I mean he's scrupulous. When you crossed the station platform
in front of us he got a jolt."

"Then, you did not get a jolt?"

"Not at all," said Barbara. "To keep behind and meet you after I'd sent
Lister off would not have bothered me. However, I was curious, although
I think I knew the line he'd take. You see, for an unsophisticated young
man, the situation was awkward."

"If he felt it awkward, it indicated he knew he ought not to have taken
you on board his boat."

"You're horribly logical," Barbara rejoined with a twinkle. "When we
started he didn't know I ought not to have gone. Mr. Lister is not like
you; he's very obvious. Of course, I did know, but I went!"

"I wonder why!" said Cartwright dryly.

"Sometimes you're keen, but you didn't remark, I meant to give you a
lead. Well, I didn't go altogether because I wanted to enjoy Mr.
Lister's society. To see a cattle boat was something fresh and I was
dull."

"Then, when did Lister see a light? Since he stopped me, it's plain he'd
got some illumination."

"I think it was when the engineer and the girl Robertson is going to
marry began to talk about house furnishings in the _Ardrigh's_
mess-room. They took it for granted Lister was my lover and he was
horribly embarrassed. The thing really was humorous."

"Folks have hinted I'm getting a back-number," Cartwright remarked. "To
talk to a modern girl makes