n Chief_ and stood talking for,
oh, quite a long time to Captain Trimblett. Then--"

"Yes?" breathed Mr. Vyner, as she paused in sudden confusion. "What did
I do next?"

Miss Hartley shook her head. "I only saw you for a moment," she said.

Mr. Vyner did not press the matter; he talked instead on other subjects,
but there was a tenderness in his voice for which Miss Hartley told
herself her own thoughtlessness was largely responsible. She trembled
and walked a little faster. Then, with a sense of relief, she saw
Captain Trimblett approaching them. His head was bent in thought, and
his usual smile was missing as he looked up and saw them.

"I wanted to see you," he said to Joan. "I'm off to London to-morrow."

"To-morrow!" repeated the girl, in surprise.

"Twelve-thirty train," said the captain, looking shrewdly from one to
the other. "I'm just off home; there are one or two matters I must
attend to before I go, and I wanted to talk to you."

"I will come with you," said Joan, quickly. "I haven't seen Mrs.
Chinnery for a long time." She nodded to Mr. Vyner and held out her
hand. "Good-by."

"Good-by," said that gentleman. He shook hands reluctantly, and his
amiable features took on a new expression as he glanced at the captain.

"Try and cheer him up," he said, with an air of false concern. "It's
only for a little while, cap'n; you'll soon be back and--you know the
old adage?"

"Yes," said the captain, guardedly.

"Although, of course, there are several," said Mr. Vyner, thoughtfully.
"I wonder whether we were thinking of the same one?"

"I dare say," said the other, hastily.

"I was thinking of 'Absence makes the heart grow fonder'--of the _Indian
Chief_" said the ingenuous Robert. "Was that the one you were thinking
of?"

The captain's reply was inaudible as he turned and bore off Miss
Hartley. The young man stood for some time watching them, and, as Joan
and her burly companion disappeared round the corner, shook his head and
set off home.

"He'll sober down as he gets older," said the captain, after they had
proceeded some way in silence. "I'm glad I met you. Your father told
me you were going to London, and I was thinking we might go up together.
It's odd we should both be going. Quite a coincidence."

"In more ways than one," said Joan. "Father told me you had arranged it
together. I quite know why I am going."

The captain coughed.

"I know why you are going, too," said Joan.

The captain