"You said it was an errand of gratitude."

"Something more than the gratitude which only says 'Thank you,'" she
added. "Before I explain myself, however, I want to know what you have
been doing, and how it was that my inquiries failed to trace you after
that terrible night."

The appearance of depression which Mrs. Callender had noticed at the
public meeting showed itself again in Mr. Lismore's face. He sighed as
he answered her.

"My story has one merit," he said; "it is soon told. I cannot wonder
that you failed to discover me. In the first place, I was not captain of
my ship at that time; I was only mate. In the second place, I inherited
some money, and ceased to lead a sailor's life, in less than a year from
the night of the fire. You will now understand what obstacles were
in the way of your tracing me. With my little capital I started
successfully in business as a ship-owner. At the time, I naturally
congratulated myself on my own good fortune. We little know, Mrs.
Callender, what the future has in store for us."

He stopped. His handsome features hardened--as if he was suffering (and
concealing) pain. Before it was possible to speak to him, there was a
knock at the door. Another visitor, without an appointment, had called;
the clerk appeared again, with a card and a message.

"The gentleman begs you will see him, sir. He has something to tell you
which is too important to be delayed."

Hearing the message, Mrs. Callender rose immediately.

"It is enough for to-day that we understand each other," she said. "Have
you any engagement to-morrow, after the hours of business?"

"None."

She pointed to her card on the writing-table. "Will you come to me
to-morrow evening at that address? I am like the gentleman who has just
called; I, too, have my reason for wishing to see you."

He gladly accepted the invitation. Mrs. Callender stopped him as he
opened the door for her.

"Shall I offend you," she said, "if I ask a strange question before I
go? I have a better motive, mind, than mere curiosity. Are you married?"

"No."

"Forgive me again," she resumed. "At my age, you cannot possibly
misunderstand me; and yet--"

She hesitated. Mr. Lismore tried to give her confidence. "Pray don't
stand on ceremony, Mrs. Callender. Nothing that _you_ can ask me need be
prefaced by an apology."

Thus encouraged, she ventured to proceed.

"You may be engaged to be married?" she suggested. "Or you may be in
love?"

He