e thought of looking for another elsewhere, as the hotel charges
made rather too large an inroad into his slender resources.

"Well, I've a little suggestion to make to you before you do that," said
Brockford. "I'm a bachelor, as you know. Now what I am going to propose
is that you shall come over and take up your abode with me. I like you;
I've already told you that we'd be first-rate company for each other;
and if you don't mind putting up with my faddy ways, I fancy we should
hit it off admirably together. What have you to say to my arrangement?"

For a moment Max was too overwhelmed to say anything.

"Good gracious!" he cried at last, "do you know what you are offering
me? Do you realise what it means to a man like myself, situated as I am
now, to be asked to share a home like yours? Mr. Brockford, your
kindness overpowers me. I don't know what to say to you."

"Say nothing at all, or, at any rate, only say that you will accept my
offer," he answered. "You have no idea what a kindness it will be to
me."

"You hide your own kindness too well," said Max. "I do not know how to
thank you. And I haven't the pluck to refuse."

"I should not allow you to do so," the other replied. "No, we've settled
it very well, I think. Have your things ready to-morrow afternoon, and
we'll take them over in the launch with us."

True to the terms of their agreement, Max next day transported himself
and his belongings to Brockford's island home. His life for the future
seemed all smooth sailing. After the heat and bustle of the city, it was
infinitely soothing at night to be able to cross to the island, and to
stretch oneself out after a good dinner on a lounge chair in the broad
verandah, and do nothing but listen to the sighing of the wind in the
palms overhead, and the musical splash of the wavelets on the beach. He
was not only bettering himself in this way, but the fact that he was
living with a man so highly respected in the city was doing him a large
amount of good from a social point of view. It was generally felt that
if Brockford were prepared to stand sponsor for him, he might very well
be admitted by other well-known men to their houses and to intercourse
with their families.

CHAPTER IX.

From the moment that Mr. Brockford took Max to live with him the
latter's lot in life seemed to change. Hitherto, apparently, no one had
been aware of his existence; now scarcely a day passed in which he did
not receive som