thirty-five to forty thousand dollars of the firm's money,
were in that light craft, which was flying so swiftly over the waves.

At the moorings lay Ben Waterford's boat; but her sails were loosed,
and she seemed to be otherwise prepared for a cruise. As the current
swung her round, I saw the name "Marian," in beautiful new gilt
letters, upon her stern. It had been changed, doubtless, to suit the
altered circumstances of her owner; but I sincerely hoped that Miss
Marian would never become the wife of so reckless and unprincipled a
man as I believed Ben Waterford to be.

"Here is your father's clerk. He will go with us," said a voice behind
me.

I turned and saw Waterford attending Miss Collingsby. I had been
tempted to take the Marian without leave or license, and give chase to
the Florina; but I was too prudent to do so. The party of which I had
heard Ben speak in the morning had not started at the time specified,
and I judged, from the remark he made, that Miss Marian was carrying
out her resolution not to go with him unless there was a party. I hoped
they would not go, for I wanted to borrow the boat, and I applauded the
young lady's firmness both for her own and my sake.

"Where is your sister?" asked Miss Collingsby.

"I don't know. She promised to be here an hour ago," replied Mr.
Waterford. "Probably some friend has arrived, or something else has
occurred to prevent her keeping her engagement. But here is Phil, your
father's clerk. Won't you go if I take him?"

"I don't like to be the only lady," said she, looking upon the ground.

"We shall join Mr. Whippleton in a little while. He has two ladies on
board with him--the Misses Lord."

"Florina?"

"Yes."

"Very well; if you can overtake Mr. Whippleton, and get Julia Lord to
go with us, I shall be satisfied."

"Certainly; Julia will be very glad to sail with you."

"But the clerk must go."

That meant me; and as they intended to overtake Mr. Whippleton as soon
as possible; the arrangement suited me. The junior partner of our firm
was my "objective" just now, and I did not intend to lose sight of him
until he had disgorged his ill-gotten gains.

"Will you go with us, Phil?" asked Ben Waterford, pleasantly.

"I shall be very happy to do so, if you will put me in the way of
seeing Mr. Whippleton. I have very important business with him," I
replied.

"We shall join him at once," added he, as he hauled the Marian up to
the shore.

While he assist