he visited the widow's cottage he became awkward and
diffident, and seemed to feel great difficulty in carrying on
conversation. During the short time he had been at Deal since the wreck
of the "Nancy," he had been up at the cottage every day on one errand or
another, and generally met the young ladies either in the house or in
the garden.

Could it be that Bax was in love? There was no doubt whatever of the
fact in his own mind; but, strange to say, no one else suspected it.
His character was grave, simple, and straightforward. He did not assume
any of those peculiar airs by which young men make donkeys of themselves
when in this condition! He feared, too, that it might be interfering
with the hopes of his friend Guy, whose affections, he had latterly been
led to suspect, lay in the same direction with his own. This made him
very circumspect and modest in his behaviour. Had he been quite sure of
the state of Guy's heart he would have retired at once, for it never
occurred to him for a moment to imagine that the girl whom Guy loved
might not love Guy, and might, possibly, love himself.

Be this as it may, Bax resolved to watch his friend that night closely,
and act according to the indications given. Little did poor Guy know
what a momentous hour that was in the life of his friend, and the
importance of the part he was then performing.

Bax rose to go sooner than usual.

"You are very kind, ma'am," he said, in reply to Mrs Foster's
remonstrances; "I have to visit an old friend to-night, and as it is
probable I may never see him again, I trust you'll excuse my going so
early."

Mrs Foster was obliged to acquiesce. Bax shook hands hurriedly, but
very earnestly, with each of the party, and quitted the cottage in
company with Guy.

"Come, Guy, let us walk over the sandhills."

"A strange walk on so dark a night; don't you think it would be more
cheerful on the beach?"

"So it would, so it would," said Bax, somewhat hastily, "but I want to
be alone with you, and we're likely to meet some of our chums on the
beach. Besides, I want to have a quiet talk, and to tell ye
something.--You're in love, Guy."

Bax said this so abruptly that his friend started, and for a few seconds
was silent. Then, with a laugh, he replied--

"Well, Bax, you've a blunt way of broaching a subject, but, now that you
put the thing to me, I feel inclined to believe that I am. You're a
sharper fellow than I gave you credit for, to