Although George had some doubts remaining, he arrived sorrowfully at the conclusion that it would be his duty to make Nellie happy, if the ladies of Windward House should respect his programme and depart from the world according to scheduled time. The question of his retirement remained the only point to be disposed of. Should he conclude a life of usefulness as the most respected parishioner of Highfield, or favour a wider circle? Certainly it would be more agreeable to retire in a village, where respect came automatically, than to run the risk of being dishonoured in some town, where standing at corners or musing beside lamp posts might be wrongly construed as revealing instability of character. It might, he feared, become necessary to commence his retirement within the next few months, for Mrs. Drake was clearly in a restless frame of mind, and the impending failure of his negotiations with the railway company might induce her to issue the expulsion order which Percy would be called upon to execute. In such case George decided his health would be forced to suffer a breakdown, although it might be possible, now Mrs. Drake's powers were growing defective, to assure her his career upon the railway was finished; but, unfortunately, owing to his inability to serve full time, he enjoyed no pension. A wet day assisted George in making a discovery which, although not altering his programme, seemed to promise an extension of the indefinite time limit. "I want to go to the sea. Aunt Sophy worries so about her friends, and I can't make her believe she hasn't got any. She will forget all about them if we go away. When are you going to your station?" asked Mrs. Drake, while Miss Yard looked up plaintively and wanted to know what she had done now. "Oh, nothing. I'm telling George we are going to the seaside directly he is ready to leave." "I think you had better not wait," said George warningly. "You promised to go this month," his aunt said fretfully. "Changes have occurred, with the result that I have now broken off the negotiations." "Then I have done with you!" "I'm so glad somebody else has broken something," said Miss Yard happily. George left the room, and returned presently with an armful of plans and diagrams. "I knew they existed, and at last I have found them," he remarked triumphantly. "Take away your rubbish!" said Mrs. Drake. "My uncle made these plans. These diagrams were the solace of his closing years," said George; and directly he had spoken his aunt's face softened, and she fumbled for her spectacles. "My dear uncle charged me to carry out the work if he should not live to complete it. These are his plans for a railway to link up the scattered parishes of this moorland region. It is my earnest hope," said George, "that I may be permitted to undertake the work which is to give Dartmoor a railway and Highfield a station." "I had forgotten all about it," Mrs. Drake murmured.