aining possession of
the forty thousand pounds, and to that he devoted himself heart and
soul. When two such men work together for one end, it is seldom that
they fail to achieve it.

It would be a mistake to suppose that Ezra felt himself in any degree in
love at this time. He recognized his companion's sweetness and
gentleness, but these were not qualities which appealed to his
admiration. Kate's amiable, quiet ways seemed insipid to a man who was
used to female society of a very different order.

"She has no go or snap about her," he would complain to his father.
"She's not like Polly Lucas at the Pavilion, or Minnie Walker."

"God forbid!" ejaculated the merchant. "That sort of thing is bad
enough out of doors, but worst of all in your own house."

"It makes courting a good deal easier," Ezra answered.

"If a girl will answer up and give you an opening now and then, it makes
all the difference."

"You can't write poetry, can you?"

"Not much," Ezra said with a grin.

"That's a pity. I believe it goes a long way with women. You might get
some one to write some, and let her think it is yours. Or you could
learn a little off and repeat it."

"Yes, I might do that. I'm going to buy a collar for that beast of a
dog of hers. All the time that I was talking to her yesterday she was
so taken up with it that I don't believe she heard half that I said.
My fingers itched to catch it up and chuck it through the window."

"Don't forget yourself, my boy, don't forget yourself!" cried the
merchant. "A single false step might ruin every thing."

"Never fear," Ezra said confidently, and went off upon the dog-collar
mission. While he was in the shop he bought a dog-whip as well, which
he locked up in his drawers to use as the occasion served.

During all this time Kate had been entirely unconscious of her
companion's intentions and designs. She had been associated with Ezra
for so many years, and had met such undeviated want of courtesy from
him, that the idea of his presenting himself as a suitor never came into
her head. She hailed his charge of demeanour, therefore, as being the
result of his larger experience of the world, and often wondered how it
was that he had profited so much by his short stay at the Cape. In the
cheerless house it was pleasant to have at least one companion who
seemed to have kindly feelings towards her. She was only too glad,
therefore, to encourage his advances, and to thank h