“Sir Mark at home, Andrews?” said Stratton as the door was opened by the butler.

“Yes, sir. Mr Barron’s with him, but of course he’ll see you. Will you step up in the drawing room? Only the young ladies there.”

“No, thanks,” said Stratton hurriedly. “Ask Sir Mark if he will see me or make some appointment. Where is he?”

“In the library, sir.”

“Mr Barron with him,” thought Stratton as the butler showed him into the dining room and closed the door. “Wonder what he is like. Oh! impossible. How easily a man can be jealous.”

As he stood looking up at the portrait of a lady—Myra’s mother—he fancied he heard steps in the hall, and directly after the butler entered.

“Sir Mark will see you, sir,” said the butler.

“But Mr Barron is there?”

“No, sir, just gone up to join the ladies.”

Stratton winced, and the next moment was shown into the library.

“Ah, Malcolm Stratton,” cried the admiral bluntly. “Come in, my dear boy. How are you? Glad you’ve called. My friend Mr Barron was here. I wanted to introduce you two. Travelled much, but he’s chary of making new friends. You’ll like him, though, I’m sure. Wonderful fellow at the management of a yacht, and a magnificent swimmer. Why, I believe that man, sir, could swim for miles.”

“Indeed, Sir Mark.”

“Oh, yes; but sit down, Stratton; you are quite a stranger. Want to see me on business?”

“Yes; I—”

But before he could get any further the admiral, who seemed in high spirits, interrupted him.

“Pity you were not ten minutes sooner. Barron was telling me a most amusing story of slave life in Trinidad in the old days. Wonderful fund of anecdote. But you said business or an appointment, my dear boy. Bad man to come to unless it’s about the sea. What is it?”

Stratton made no answer for a few moments. The difficulty was how to begin. It was not that he was strange with the admiral, for, consequent upon the friendship formerly existing between Miss Jerrold and his mother, Sir Mark’s house had been open to him times enough. Seeing his hesitation the old sailor smiled encouragement.

“Come, my lad,” he said, “out with it. Is something wrong? Want help?”

“Yes, sir, yours,” said Stratton, making his plunge, and now speaking quickly. “The fact is, Sir Mark, I have had news this morning—glorious news for me.”

“Glad of it, my dear boy. But you looked just now as if you were going to court-martial for running your ship aground.”

“I suppose it was natural, sir. Yesterday I was a poor struggling man, to-day I have had the letter announcing my appointment to the Headley Museum, and it is not only the stipend—a liberal one—but the position that is so valuable for one who is fighting to make his way in the scientific ranks.”

The admiral stretched out his hand, and shook Stratton’s warmly.

“Glad of it, my dear boy. My congratulations on your promotion. I shall see you an admiral among the scientific bigwigs yet. To be sure; of course. I have been so taken up with other things—being abroad—and so much worried and occupied since I came back, that I had forgotten all about it. But my sister told me she was moving heaven and earth, and going down on her knees to all kinds of great guns to beg them to salute you.”

“Then it has been her doing,” cried Stratton excitedly.

“Oh, yes; I think she has done something in it. Do the girls know?”

“No, sir; not yet,” said Stratton hastily. “I felt that it was my duty to come to you first.”

“Eh? Very good of you, I’m sure. I’ll send for them. They’ll be delighted.”

He rose to ring, but Stratton interposed.

“Not yet, sir, please,” he cried; “I have something else to say.”

“Wants to borrow a hundred for his outfit,” thought the admiral. “Well, I like the fellow; he shall have it. Now, my lad,” he said aloud as he resumed his seat. “What is it?”

Stratton hesitated for a few moments, and then hurriedly:

“I have met Miss Myra Jerrold and Miss Perrin frequently at their aunt’s, Sir Mark, and to a great extent you have made me free of your house. You will grant, I hope, that feelings such as have grown up in me were quite natural. It was impossible for me to be in their society without forming an attachment, but I give you my word, sir, as a man, that never by word or look have I trespassed upon the kindness you have accorded me; and had I remained poor, as I believed myself yesterday, I should never have uttered a word.”

“Humph!” ejaculated the admiral, gazing at him sternly.

“But now that I do know my position, my first step is to come to you and explain.”

“And the young lady? You have not spoken to her on the subject?”

“Never, Sir Mark, I swear.”

“A gentleman’s word is enough, sir. Well, I will not profess ignorance. My sister did once drop me a kind of hint about my duties, and I have noticed a little thing now and then.”

“You have noticed, sir?” cried Stratton, looking startled.

“Oh, yes,” said the admiral, smiling. “I’m not an observant man over such matters; in fact, I woke ............