dn't care to see the garden.

"Very much," said Joan. "Come along," she added, turning to the captain.
"Now come and show me that rose-bush you have been talking about so
much."

Captain Trimblett rose with an alacrity that mystified Miss Willett more
than ever, and, having gained the garden, found so many things to show
Miss Hartley, and so much to talk about, that supper was on the table
before he had finished. Fearful of being left alone with Miss Willett,
he stuck to his young protector so closely that in going in at the door
he trod on her heel. Miss Hartley entered the room limping, and, having
gained her seat, sat eying him with an expression in which pain and
reproachful mirth struggled for the mastery.

"What a delightful evening!" she said, in an affected voice, as the
captain walked home with her about an hour later; "I have enjoyed myself
tremendously."

The captain uttered an impatient exclamation.

"It reminded me of the old fable of the lion and the mouse," continued
Joan.

The captain grunted again, and, in a voice that he vainly endeavoured to
render polite, said that he did not know what she was talking about.

CHAPTER XV

MR. ROBERT VYNER received the news of Miss Hartley's sudden departure
with an air of polite interest. The secrecy of the affair and the fact
that she had gone with Captain Trimblett convinced him that it was no
casual visit, and he mused bitterly on the strange tendency of seafaring
people to meddle with the affairs of others. An attempt to ascertain
from Hartley the probable duration of her visit, and other interesting
particulars, as they sat together in the young man's office, yielded no
satisfaction.

"She made up her mind to go rather suddenly, didn't she?" he inquired.

Hartley said "Yes," and murmured something about taking advantage of the
opportunity of going up with Captain Trimblett. "She is very fond of the
captain," he added.

"Is she staying near him?" asked Vyner, without looking up from his
work.

The chief clerk, who was anxious to get away, said "No," and eyed him
uneasily.

"I hope that London will agree with her," continued Robert, politely.
"Is she staying in a healthy part?"

"Very," said the other.

Mr. Vyner bent over his work again, and scowled diabolically at an
innocent letter which said that his instructions should have immediate
attention. "Which do you consider a healthy part?" he said presently.

Mr. Hartley, after some refle