the girl shook her head. Her face was very serious, and her eyes
shone with the light of determination.

"I must go, John," she said. "Should my father find me here, he will
make my life unbearable. He will try to force me to go back, and the
only way to prevent that would be for me to do what people think I have
already done." A tremour shook her body, and her eyes grew big with a
nameless fear.

"Your father shall not take you back," John declared. "And you must
not do what you suggest. That would be terrible! There is another way
out of the difficulty, and you know what that is."

"Yes, I know, John. The captain spoke of it yesterday."

"He did! Good for him. He is a man of sense, all right. And won't
you, Jess? We can get married, and then no one can take you from me."

Jess remained silent for a few minutes, with her face turned to the
river, shimmering in the glow of eventide.

"We must wait, John," she at length replied. "We are both young yet,
so there need be no hurry. Should we get married now, I know that my
father would make every effort to separate us, even though I have the
right to do as I please. He is a very determined man, and when he once
makes up his mind it is almost impossible to stop him. When he finds
out what I have done his anger will be great. But what would it be
like should I marry you? No, we must wait. I shall go away and hide
myself."

"You cannot do that, Jess. I am afraid you know very little about the
world. Why, what could you do to make a living? You have been well
educated, but what could you do to earn enough to live upon? You have
always had plenty of money for all your needs; you have led a sheltered
life, so you cannot understand the struggle it would mean to go out
into the world to battle your own way. Now, is there one thing you
could really do to earn a living?"

"I don't know, John," was the low reply. There were tears in the
girl's eyes, for she realised that the words of advice were only too
true, "I am afraid you are right. I did not look at it that way."

"I know you didn't, so that is why I have spoken so plainly. It would
be cruel not to open your eyes and show you the difficulties ahead."

"What am I to do, then?" the girl asked, in a despairing voice. "We
must not marry each other now. But what can I do? Where can I go?"

For a few minutes silence reigned, as the two stood there. John was
thinking rapidly, and at last he tu