Mr. Macdonald (the store-owner) seemed, however, to think that they required pretty close watching, and I do not think he would have been willing to let Alister go back with us to luncheon at Willie’s, but for his appreciation of social rank. It was obvious that it did Alister no harm that he had a friend in an officer of her Majesty’s Service, and a comrade in the nephew of a sugar-planter of the uppermost level of Demerara society.
We three held a fresh council as we sat with the young engineer. He and Alister got on admirably, and he threw himself into our affairs with wonderful kindness. One point he disposed of at once, and that was my fate! There could be no question, he said, that my duty was to get back to Halifax, “report myself” to Uncle Henry’s agent there, and then go home.
“You’re ruthlessly dismembering the Shamrock, Willie,” Dennis objected.
“I don’t see that. You’re not to stay here, for instance.”
“You’re mighty positive,” said Dennis, blushing.
“Of course I am. I wouldn’t encourage you to waste sentiment anyhow; and the West Indies is no latitude for boys, to go on with. And you know as well as I do, that it’s rather more than time the squire started you in life. You must go home, Dennis!”
“If I do, I go with Jack. And what about Alister?”
The young officer tugged his moustaches right and left. Then he said, “If I were exactly in your place, Auchterlay——”
“Well, sir?” said Alister, for he had hesitated.
—“I should—enlist in the Royal Engineers.”