would have no
defences at all! I would be at your mercy because I love you so!"

"You're always laughing at me," she murmured.

"I swear I am not! People who love do not make bargains, Corinna. All
that I am or ever will be is yours. Take me and make what you can of
it!"

Corinna, who had not looked at him all this while, now turned a comical
face of remonstrance. "But you mustn't!" she said. "You mustn't give
in to me like that! You must oppose my temper and my wilfulness,
whatever I say!"

It was Evan's turn to stare. Then he understood that this was
surrender--Corinna's way. He laughed in pure delight and opened his
arms. "Come here, you wretch!"

She sidled towards him, blushing deeply, intolerably confused.

POSTSCRIPT

Two weeks later. The Executive Committee of the Deaves Trust was
holding an informal meeting. Said Evan:

"The _Ernestina_ is in commission again, but of course we don't want
her as long as the present skipper is in charge. I have found a new
boat, the _Thomas Higgins_, safe and comfortable. The only thing
against her is her name, and I propose to change that to _Corinna_."

"Silly!" said the other member of the committee.

"The owners have made me a fair price, and the other trustees have
authorized me to purchase her outright."

"Won't that take all our money?"

"No, indeed. I have arranged to run her three days a week to the town
of Redport, which wants a steam-boat service with the city. The
merchants of the town have guaranteed an amount of business sufficient
to pay operating expenses and interest on the investment. In addition,
on Thursdays and Sundays she will be available for charter. On Sundays
we can always get a big price for her. So you see, we'll not only have
our own steamboat, but our income, too."

"How clever you are!" said Corinna.

"After I arranged about that I went to see Dordess----"

"Was he friendly?"--this anxiously.

"Yes, indeed. We understand each other. I always was attracted to
him, and he is resigned to the inevitable now. He says he's content to
be an uncle to our children."

"_Evan!_"

"He was to sound the other fellows, you know, and find out how they
were disposed towards the new trips. Well, Anway and Tenterden decline
with thanks. That was to be expected. But the others, Domville,
Burgess, Minturn, and that odd little chap in the grey suit with the
big eyes----"

"Paul Roman."

"Yes, they're all crazy t