"I'm just after telegraphing to the Governor and the Receiver-General. The old light has gone out with the tide, Sir, and it will be middlin' bad for the boats coming in at night until we get a new one."
"It will, Captain, it will. Good-morning!"
His eyes were positively shining with joy as he walked sharply through the town, and as he opened his door he was saying to himself again,
"I must do the right, whatever it may cost me."
He was closing the door on the inside when he saw in the letter-box the letter which had caught his eye last night. Now he could open it.
It was marked "Immediate." Recognising the Ballamoar crest and Janet's handwriting, he trembled and turned pale.
"A line in frantic haste, dear, to say I have just heard from Miss Green that Fenella is crossing by the steamer due to arrive at eight o'clock this evening. She has left her Settlement and is coming back to stay in the island for good. I thought you might like to go up to Douglas to meet her. Trust me, dear, she will be simply delighted.
"Robbie Creer is taking this into town by hand, so that you may receive it at the earliest possible moment. I am frightfully excited, and oh, so glad and happy."
Stowell reeled and laid hold of the hand-rail. And when at length he went upstairs he staggered as if he were carrying a crushing load.
END OF FIRST BOOK