‘I am dead beat,’ replied Vernon, drawing his chair to the table. ‘I called to-day on Stern & Stales, and saw their ship’s husband about the appointment on board the _Pandora_. I told him how very anxious I am to get it, but he is not sure if it is given away. However, he has four passenger ships all going to New Zealand, and if the _Pandora’s_ berth is filled, he has promised to try and get me on one of the others. If I don’t hear from him by to-morrow I am to go up and see him again.’ Mrs Blythe gave a shrug of impatience. ‘I can’t think,’ she said somewhat testily, ‘why you should be so dreadfully anxious to sail in the _Pandora_.’ Her son regarded her with mild surprise. ‘Why, mother, you know that the Leytons have secured their passages by her. What is more natural than I should wish to go too?’ ‘Well, if you do your duty on board ship, as I know you always do, you will have no time to waste on making love to Alice Leyton.’ Vernon laughed in his lazy fashion. ‘Perhaps not! but I shall be near her in case of her requiring me, and when we get to New Zealand, I shall see her father and get the matter settled. It is time it was settled, mother. We have been engaged now for nearly a year, and I suppose that, sooner or later, we must be married.’ ‘It had better be later, then,’ replied Mrs Blythe, hotly. ‘For my part, I think it is nonsense to hear you talk of such a thing as marriage. A child like you, and without any money.’ ‘The last objection is unfortunately true enough,’ replied Vernon; ‘but as for being a child--well, all I can say is, I don’t feel like one. And if Alice chooses to marry a poor man, that is her business, and no one else’s.’ ‘There is a much greater objection to the marriage, in my opinion, than that, urged Mrs Blythe. ‘I don’t think Alice Leyton really cares for you.’ ‘Oh, mother, why should you say so. What right have you to think it. I should never have proposed to her if I had not seen plainly that she cared for me.’ ‘Any fool could see that she set her cap at you, Vernon. But she is not the only girl that has done that. And she is a flirt, my dear. I daresay you will be angry with me, but I must speak the truth. Whilst you are away in London, Alice Leyton is running about the common and the pier with any man she can get hold of, and chattering--dear! dear! how that girl’s tongue does run. I pity you if you are ever shut up with it between four walls.’ The young man did not seem in the least angry at this tirade. He waited till his mother had finished, and then he answered very quietly, but determinately.