rm began to afford support to Miss Jelks's waist. They walked
on for a long time in silence.

"Some men haven't got your sense," said Rosa, at last, with a sigh.
"There's a young fellow that brings the milk--nice young fellow I thought
he was--and all because I've had a word with him now and again, he tried
to make love to me."

"Oh, did he?" said Mr. Walters, grimly. "What's his name?"

"It don't matter," said Rosa. "I don't think he'll try it again."

"Still, I might as well learn 'im a lesson," said the boatswain. "I like
a bit of a scrap."

"If you are going to fight everybody that tries to take notice of me
you'll have your work cut out," said Miss Jelks, in tones of
melancholy resignation, "and I'm sure it's not because I give them
any encouragement. And as for the number that ask me to walk out with
them--well, there!"

Mr. Walters showed his sympathy with such a state of affairs by a
pressure that nearly took her breath away. They sat for an hour and a
half on a bench by the river discussing the foolishness of young men.

"If any of them chaps trouble you again," he said, as they shook hands
at the gate of Laurel Lodge, "you let me know. Do you have Sunday
evening out too?"

CHAPTER XI

"I HAVE been knocking for the last ten minutes," said Hartley, as he
stood one evening at the open door of No. 5, Tranquil Vale, and looked
up at Captain Trimblett.

"I was in the summer-house," said the captain, standing aside to let him
enter.

"Alone?" queried the visitor.

"Alone? Yes, of course," said the captain, sharply. "Why shouldn't I be?
Peter's courting--as usual."

"And Mrs. Chinnery?" inquired the other.

"She's away for a day or two," replied the captain; "friends at
Marsham."

He stopped in the small kitchen to get some beer and glasses, and, with
the bottle gripped under his arm and a glass in each hand, led the way
to the summer-house.

"I came to ask your advice," said Hartley, as he slowly filled his pipe
from the pouch the captain pushed toward him.

[Illustration: I came to ask your advice 126]

"Joan?" inquired the captain, who was carefully decanting the beer.

Mr. Hartley nodded.

"Robert Vyner?" pursued the captain.

Hartley nodded again.

"What did I tell you?" inquired the other, placing a full tumbler before
him. "I warned you from the first. I told you how it would be. I----"

"It's no good talking like that," said Hartley, with feeble irritation.
"You're as bad