Now Mr. Basset had in reality no more idea at that moment of procuring any such post for Morley, than of securing one for the personage who resides in the moon, but it suited him to say so at the time; and thus Morley, with a heart full of gratitude, exclaimed: "Ah, how, sir! how shall I thank you?" "By working hard and industriously at home in the meantime; by never shrinking from trouble, nor fearing aught that is onerous." "Such, sir, has ever been my maxim and habit--yet what have they availed me?" "With your business habits, your father's well-known name and connections in Liverpool, your intimate acquaintance with the west coast trade of Africa, you cannot be at a loss to push your way until you might join us. My friend the captain, as I have said, perhaps goes with us. Has Ethel told you that I am pledged to do something for him? But Heaven alone knows what will suit him; he is such an unsettled dog, and has been so long accustomed to wandering ways in California, and among scalp-hunters in Texas, the Rocky Mountains, and everywhere else." All this sounded ill and unwelcome to Morley, and served to disturb him greatly. His sallow cheek, long blanched by past illness, burned redly; his eyes were hot and sad in expression. As he drank another glass of port, he felt the crystal rattling on his teeth, and as Ethel watched him anxiously, her little hand stole lovingly into his, which closed tightly upon it. He perceived that she had still his engagement ring on the proper finger, but another ring--a huge nugget-like affair, with a green stone--was there too! CHAPTER III. CRAMPLY HAWKSHAW. Before Morley had time to think or inquire--if, indeed, inquiry was necessary--concerning this trinket, a lovely, laughing girl of eighteen burst into the room, and kissed him playfully on each cheek. "Rose," he exclaimed, "Rose, how you have grown. The little girl I left behind has become quite a woman!" "Why have you delayed so long, Rose?" said Ethel, almost with annoyance. "Did you not know who was here--that Morley had arrived?" "No. If so, do you think I would have delayed?" "Yet you have done so." "Oh, don't be jealous," replied Rose, laughing, though her answer unwittingly galled Morley, and annoyed Ethel more; "we were not flirting, for the captain was only telling me about the flowers of South America; and I merely amuse myself with him and Jack Page, when I can get no one else." Morley thought of the strange ring on Ethel's finger, and as he caressed Rose's hand, there arose some unpleasant forebodings in his mind; but at that moment, as lights were brought, and tea announced in the drawing-room, the gentleman whom they styled "captain" entered from the conservatory, throwing back therein the fag-end of his cigar. Ethel hastened to introduce him to Morley as "Captain Cramply Hawkshaw, the son of papa's old and valued friend."