Vane started. The prospector had given him very little definite information, and it was disconcerting to recognize that he must now rely entirely upon his own devices.
"I'm sorry", he said "How's Celia?"
"She's very ill." There was concern in Kitty's voice. "Hartley got worse soon after you left, and she sat up all night with him, after her work for the last few weeks. Now she's broken down, and she seems to worry for fear they will not take her back again at the hotel."
"I must go to see her," declared Vane. "But won't you and Drayton come with us and have dinner?"
Drayton explained that this was out of the question; Kitty's employer, who had driven in that afternoon, was waiting with his team. They left the wharf together, and a few minutes later Vane shook hands with the girl and her companion.
"Don't lose heart," he said encouragingly. "We're far from beaten yet."
Some time afterward Vane, rejoicing in the unusual luxury of clean, dry clothes, walked across to call on Nairn. The house struck him as larger, more commodious and better lighted than it had been when he left it, although he supposed that was only the result of his having lived on board the sloop and in the bush. He was shown into a room where Jessy Horsfield was sitting, and she rose with a slight start when he came in; but her manner was reposeful and quietly friendly when she held out her hand.
"So you have come back! Have you succeeded in your search?"
Vane was gratified. It was pleasant to feel that she was interested in his undertaking.
"No," he confessed. "For the time being, I'm afraid I have failed."