ly, however, for his own and Lucy Walford's peace of mind,
George Leicester is not only unaware of this superiority on his own
part, but he strongly suspects it to be all on the other side. He has
made Walford's acquaintance, having met him, perhaps, some half a dozen
times in all, at "Sea View," and, despite his simplicity, he has had no
difficulty in recognising in the lieutenant a would-be rival. And this
is just where his own modesty and self-depreciation have played him a
scurvy trick. He has noted Walford's easy, nonchalant bearing, and his
two or three flashy accomplishments; he has noticed, too, that the
lieutenant is not altogether devoid of good looks, and has jumped--all
too hastily, as we are aware--at the conclusion that, where a woman is
concerned, a plain, straightforward, honest sailor can have no chance
against a dashing soldier like the lieutenant. At the same time, he has
by no means given up the chase, nor ever will, so he tells himself, as
long as Lucy is free. Over and over again has he been upon the point of
speaking out and learning his fate, and over and over again has he
hesitated and closed his lips, deeming the occasion unpropitious, or
fearing to learn that which will make the remainder of his life a blank
to him.

But now he has resolved to delay no longer. He has been screwing up his
courage to the sticking-place during the whole of the passage from
Waterford to Gosport, and when he stepped from the rail of the
_Industry_ on to the wharf, he was on his way to Alverstoke to learn his
fate.

Satisfied at last that everything was right on board the schooner,
Leicester turned away and directed his steps up High Street, and thence
out on to the Stoke Road. Alverstoke church-clock struck eight just as
he came in sight of it; and the next moment he saw, far ahead of him, a
man dart round the corner and come swinging along the road towards him
at a tremendous pace. Distant as the man was, Captain Leicester had no
difficulty in recognising in him his dreaded rival, Lieutenant Walford.
He guessed at once that the lieutenant had been visiting at "Sea View;"
but what struck him as strange was that Walford's appearance and bearing
was that of a man in a towering passion. Almost immediately afterwards,
however, he decided that he must have been mistaken in supposing this,
for as Walford looked up and recognised him he stopped dead in the road
for a moment, and then hurried towards the skipper