“It must be Captain Harefield. May has spoken of him,” said Mr Manners.
It was Captain Harefield. Mr Dawson introduced him as they came up, and from his father’s manner George knew that he was pleased at the meeting.
“I have been trying to persuade Captain Harefield to come to the marriage to-morrow,” said he. “It is short notice, I know, but not too short, if you will come out to Saughleas to-night and see the bride.”
Captain Harefield murmured something about an engagement, but he looked as though he would willingly be persuaded to break it. Mr Manners first, and then George added a word, and he yielded, and he and Mr Dawson drove off in the dog-cart at once.
“Ye’ll come with us, Willie?” said George laying his hand on his shoulder, in boyish fashion. The friends looked at one another, and both changed colour a little.
“No’ the nicht, I think, Geordie.”
Then they shook hands and the mate went rapidly down the street, and the others were more than half way to Saughleas before George uttered a word.
That night Willie Calderwood startled his mother by saying suddenly after a long time of silence,—
“I am off to-morrow morning for Liverpool, mother. I have a letter that I meant to show to George, but I couldna, and you must tell him. I have a chance to be second officer on one of the great ocean steamships. What do you think of that, mother? I think I’ll take it.”
“Then you’ve given up all thoughts of the ‘John Seaton’?”