I must not, ask
you for any promise; but I trust that if ever you do come back you will
make us all glad by seeing you. And remember that what I said of myself
and of all I have--all--holds good so long as I shall live!'

Before Harold could reply he had slipped down the ladder and was gone.

During the rest of the voyage, with the exception of one occasion, he did
not allude to the subject again by word or implication, and Harold was
grateful to him for it.

On the night before Fire Island should be sighted Harold was in the bow
of the great ship looking out with eyes in which gleamed no hope. To him
came through the darkness Mr. Stonehouse. He heard the footsteps and
knew them; so with the instinct of courtesy, knowing that his friend
would not intrude on his solitude without purpose, he turned and met him.
When the American stood beside him he said, studiously avoiding looking
at his companion:

'This is the last night we shall be together, and, if I may, there is one
thing I would like to say to you.'

'Say all you like, sir,' said Harold as heartily as he could, 'I am sure
it is well meant; and for that at any rate I shall be grateful to you.'

'You will yet be grateful, I think!' he answered gravely. 'When it comes
back to you in loneliness and solitude you will, I believe, think it
worth being grateful for. I don't mean that you will be grateful to me,
but for the thing itself. I speak out of the wisdom of many years. At
your time of life the knowledge cannot come from observation. It may my
poor boy, come through pain; and if what I think is correct you will even
in due time be grateful to the pain which left such golden residuum.' He
paused, and Harold grew interested. There was something in the old man's
manner which presaged a truth; he, at least, believed it. So the young
man listened at first with his ears; and as the other spoke, his heart
listened too:

'Young men are apt to think somewhat wrongly of women they love and
respect. We are apt to think that such women are of a different clay
from ourselves. Nay! that they are not compact of clay at all, but of
some faultless, flawless material which the Almighty keeps for such fine
work. It is only in middle age that men--except scamps, who learn this
bad side of knowledge young--realise that women are human beings like
themselves. It may be, you know, that you may have misjudged this young
lady! That you have not made sufficient allowa