his great-hearted generosity touched Harold to the quick. He could
hardly speak for a few minutes. Then instinctively grasping the old
man's hand he said:

'You overwhelm me. Such noble trust and generosity as you have shown me
demands a return of trust. But I must think! Will you remain here and
let me return to you in a little while?'

He rose quickly and slipped down the iron ladder, passing into the
darkness and the mist and the flying spray.

CHAPTER XXVII--AGE'S WISDOM

Harold went to and fro on the deserted deck. All at once the course he
had to pursue opened out before him. He was aware that what the noble-
minded old man offered him was fortune, great fortune in any part of the
world. He would have to be refused, but the refusal should be gently
done. He, believing that the other had done something very wrong, had
still offered to share with him his name, his honour. Such confidence
demanded full confidence in return; the unwritten laws which governed the
men amongst whom he had been brought up required it.

And the shape that confidence should take? He must first disabuse his
new friend's mind of criminal or unworthy cause for his going away. For
the sake of his own name and that of his dead father that should be done.
Then he would have to suggest the real cause . . . He would in this have
to trust Mr. Stonehouse's honour for secrecy. But he was worthy of
trust. He would, of course, give no name, no clue; but he would put
things generally in a way that he could understand.

When his mind was so far made up he wanted to finish the matter, so he
turned to the wheelhouse and climbed the ladder again. It was not till
he sat in the shelter by his companion that he became aware that he had
become wet with the spray. The old man wishing to help him in his
embarrassment said:

'Well?' Harold began at once; the straightforward habit of his life stood
to him now:

'Let me say first, sir, what will I know give you pleasure.' The old man
extended his hand; he had been hoping for acceptance, and this seemed
like it. Harold laid his hand on it for an instant only, and then raised
it as if to say 'Wait':

'You have been so good to me, so nobly generous in your wishes that I
feel I owe you a certain confidence. But as it concerns not myself alone
I will ask that it be kept a secret between us two. Not to be told to
any other; not even your wife!'

'I will hold your secret sacred. Even