"That must have been my brother to meet—Mr. Balfe, was it?—your fellow-passenger."
He hesitated a moment. "Mr. Balfe—yes, that was it. The captain—or was it the captain?—said that there was a Mr. Balfe who went on special missions for the government, but whether this was the Mr. Balfe or not he could not say."
She sewed serenely on. "I've heard that that steamer captain is developing into a great gossip. Our Mr. Balfe is my brother's dearest friend and godfather to my brother's boy—the boy you were speaking to on the beach—and if he ever found himself in this part of the world without calling on us, I don't know what my brother would think."
This time Miss Welkie looked up, and Necker smiled with her. Also he peered smilingly through the veranda vine. "So that is your brother's boy out there? Well, well! And a fine boy, too! A beautifully shaped head. Bright, I'll bet?"
"Naturally"—with a tender smile—"we think so."
"I'll bet he is. And of course your brother is laying great plans to assure his future?"
"I'm afraid you are not well acquainted with my brother, Mr. Necker."
"And of course your brother is laying great plans to assure his future?"