aret. Larose, eh?"

"Yes. Fill your glass again."

"Willingly," said Baron, obeying his host, and pushing back the jug,
"for I want to talk to you, sir, very seriously, and one seems to get on
over a glass of wine."

"To talk to me?" said Sir Mark sharply, for his nerves were still ajar.
"Nothing the matter?"

"Yes--and no."

"Look here, Barron," cried Sir Mark excitedly, "no beating about the
bush. If you want to draw back from your engagement say so like a man."

"If I want to draw back from my engagement, my dear sir? What in the
world are you thinking about?"

"I--er--well, your manner was so strange."

"Not strange, Sir Mark: serious. There are serious moments in my life.
By the way, I have seen my solicitor again respecting the settlements,
and the papers will be ready at any time."

"No hurry, sir, no hurry," said Sir Mark, frowning. "Well?"

Barron drew a long breath.

"Well, what is it, man--what is wrong?"

"Only the old story. When the cat's away the mice will play."

"What do you mean?"

"I've had bad news from my agent in Trinidad."

"Indeed!"

"He writes to me by this mail that he has done his best, but the estate
needs my immediate supervision--that he cannot exert the same influence
and authority that I should."

"Losses?"

"Oh, no; gains--that is, a little on the right side. But a little is
absurd. Those plantations ought to produce a princely revenue."

The admiral looked at his guest keenly.

"Well," he said at last, "what does this mean?"

"That in spite of everything--my own desires and the love I have for
England--I shall have to run across as soon as possible."

"For how long?"

"I cannot say--probably for a year."

"Hah!" ejaculated the admiral, with a sigh of relief. "A year before he
would be compelled to part with his child."

"And under the circumstances, Sir Mark, I am obliged to throw myself
upon your mercy."

"What do you mean?" cried the admiral in alarm.

"Can you ask, sir?" said Barron reproachfully. "I know it is making a
great demand upon you and dear Myra; but life is short, and I ask you if
my position would not be terrible. It would be like exile to me. I
could not bear it. I would say to my agent, `Let the estate go to--'
never mind where; but that would be courting ruin at a time when I am
beginning to learn the value of money, as a slave of the lamp, who can,
at my lightest order, bring everything I desire to lay at my darling's