Neefit did not see it, or seeing it chose to
ignore the matter, cannot be said. He was, at any rate, as courteous
as ever. Mrs. Neefit, overcome partly by her husband's authority,
and partly induced to believe that as Ontario Moggs was going into
Parliament he was no longer to be regarded as a possible husband,
had yielded, and was most polite to the lover. When he came in of an
evening, she always gave him a double allowance of prawns, and hoped
that the tea was to his liking. But she said very little more than
this, standing somewhat in awe of him. Polly had been changeable,
consenting to walk with him every day, but always staving the matter
off when he asked her whether she thought that she yet knew him well
enough to be his wife. "Oh, not half well enough," she would say.
"And then, perhaps, you know, I'm not over fond of the half that I
do know." And so it was up to the last evening, when the father put
him through his facings. In respect of "the Captain's" behaviour to
Polly, the father had no just ground of complaint, for Ralph had done
his best. Indeed, Ralph was fond enough of Polly. And it was hard
for a man to be much with her without becoming fond of her. "She's
a-coming round, ain't she, Captain?" said Mr. Neefit.

"I can't say that she is," said Ralph, turning upon his heel near the
end of the pier.

"You don't stick to her fast enough, Captain."

This was not to be borne. "I'll tell you what it is, Mr. Neefit,"
said Ralph, "you'd better let me alone, or else I shall be off."

"You'd only have to come back, Captain, you know," said Neefit. "Not
as I want to interfere. You're on the square, I see that. As long
as you're on the square, there ain't nothing I won't do. I ain't
a-blaming you,--only stick to her." "Damn it all!" said Ralph,
turning round again in the other direction. But there was Neefit
still confronting him. "Only stick to her, Captain, and we'll pull
through. I'll put her through her facings to-night. She's thinking
of that orkard lout of a fellow just because he's standing to be a
Parl'ament gent." This did not improve matters, and Ralph absolutely
ran away,--ran away, and escaped to his hotel. He would try again in
the morning, would still make her his wife if she would have him! And
then swore a solemn oath that in such case he would never see his
father-in-law again.

Polly was not at all averse to giving him opportunities. They were
together on the sands on the next morning, and h