ary period. If my
further acquaintance with you confirms the high impression which I now
have of your commercial ability, that, of course, would have weight with
me; and, again, if I find Miss Harston's mind is made up upon the point,
that also would influence my judgment."

"And what are we to do in the mean time?" asked the junior partner
anxiously.

"In the mean time neither you nor your people must write to her, or
speak to her, or hold any communication with her whatever. If I find
you or them doing so, I shall be compelled in justice to Mr. Harston's
last request to send her to some establishment abroad where she shall be
entirely out of your way. My mind is irrevocably made up upon that
point. It is not a matter of personal inclination, but of conscience."

"And how long is this to last?" cried Tom.

"It will depend upon yourselves. If you prove yourself to be a man of
honour in this matter, I may be inclined to sanction your addresses.
In the mean time you must give me your word to let it rest, and neither
to attempt to speak to Miss Harston, nor to see her, nor to allow your
parents to communicate with her. The last condition may seem to you to
be hard, but, in my eyes, it is a very important one. Unless you can
bring yourself to promise all this, my duty will compel me to remove my
ward entirely out of your reach, a course which would be painful to her
and inconvenient to myself."

"But I must let her know of this arrangement. I must tell her that you
hold out hopes to us on condition that we keep apart for a time."

"It would be cruel not to allow you to do that," Girdlestone answered.
"You may send her _one_ letter, but remember there shall be no reply to
it."

"Thank you, sir; thank you!" Tom cried fervently. "I have something to
live for now. This separation will but make our hearts grow fonder.
What change can time make in either of us?"

"Quite so," said John Girdlestone, with a smile. "Remember there must
be no more walking through the square. You must remain absolutely apart
if you wish to gain my consent."

"It is hard, very, very hard. But I will promise to do it. What would
I not promise which would lead to our earlier union?"

"That is settled then. In the mean time, I should be obliged if you
would go down to the docks and look after the loading of the
transferable corrugated iron houses for New Calabar."

"All right, sir, and thank you for your kindness," said Tom, bo