head of India Wharf the next morning,
determined to make a clean breast of his engagement. The ocean air
came straight in from the clear, blue bay, spice-laden as it swept
along the great rows of warehouses, and a big white ship, topgallant
sails still set, came bulging up the harbor, not sixty minutes from
deep water. Mr. James found McMurtagh already in the office and the
mail well sorted, but he insisted on McMurtagh finding him a broom,
and, wielding that implement on the second pair of stairs (for the
counting-room of James Bowdoin's Sons was really a loft, two flights
up in the old granite building), was discovered there shortly after
by Mr. James Bowdoin. The staircase had not been swept in some years,
and the young man's father made his way up through a cloud of aromatic
dust that Mr. James had raised. He could with difficulty see the door
of his counting-room. This slammed behind him as he entered; and a few
seconds after, Mr. James received a summons through McMurtagh that Mr.
James Bowdoin wished to see him.

"An' don't ye mind if Mr. James Bowdoin is a bit sharp-set the morn,"
said Jamie McMurtagh.

Mr. James nodded; then he went in to his father.

"So, sir, it was you kicking up that devil of a dust outside there,
was it?"

"Yes, sir," says Mr. James. (I have this story from McMurtagh.) "You
told me to sweep out the counting-room."

"Precisely so, sir. I am glad your memory is better than your
intelligence. I told you to sweep _it out_, and not all outdoors in."

Mr. James bowed, and wondered how he was to speak of Miss Dowse at
this moment. The old gentleman chuckled for some minutes; then he
said, "And now, James, it's time you got married."

Mr. James started. "I--I only graduated yesterday, sir," says he.

"Well, sir," answers the old gentleman testily, "you may consider
yourself devilish lucky that you weren't married before! I have got a
house for you"--

"Perhaps, sir, you have even got me a wife?"

"Of course I have; and a devilish fine girl she is, too, I can tell
you!"

"But, sir," says Mr. James, "I--I have made other arrangements."

"The devil you have! Then damme, sir, not a house shall you have from
me,--not a house, sir, not a shingle,--nor the girl, either, by gad!
I'll--I'll"--

"Perhaps, sir," says Mr. James, "you'll wait and marry her yourself?"

"Perhaps I will, sir; and if I do, what of it? Older men than I have
married, I take it! Insolent young dog!"

"May I tell m