"Next time I ask you there will be a different answer," said the girl sharply. "Don't ask Alison, Dan," she continued, turning to her sister. "He is going to be a good boy too, and stop and see his papa take his barley-water." "Is he?" said Alison gruffly. "Perhaps he was not going to wait to be asked. There is no occasion for me to hang about at home, Neil?" "N-no, I think not. You can do nothing." "I'll be ready in five minutes, then, girls." "Here, we'll come round to the stables with you," said Saxa. "I want to see The Don. Is he any the worse for his fall?" She said this as she rode on beside Alison, her sister following, without any further notice of Neil and his sister, while the former stood looking after her, frowning. "And I thought of marrying that hoyden!" he said to himself. "It is impossible. We have not a sympathy in common." Then the thought of his father's expressed wishes came back, and of his lying there helpless. He had made no opposition when the matter had been spoken of last. How could he draw back now? His heart sank low as he looked into the future with a kind of wonder as to what his future life would be bound up to a woman like that, and a feeling of anger rose within him at his weakness in letting the affair drift on so far. "It is impossible," he thought. "She does not care for me. It would be madness--a sin against her and against myself. Yes!" he said aloud with a start, for Isabel had laid her hand upon his arm. "There is something the matter," she said quickly. Neil turned to hurry into the house, but his sister held him fast. "No, no, dear. Tom is coming. Mr Beck must be worse." Neil looked in the direction taken by her eyes, and saw that the young lieutenant was striding rapidly toward them, coming by the short cut across the park, and now, seeing that he was observed, he waved his hand. "Go in, Isabel," said Neil quietly. "Neil!" "I wish it, my dear. After what has passed, you have no right to see him now." She gave him a tearful look, and went in with her head bent down to hide her face from anyone who might be at the windows. The next minute the young sailor hurried up. "You have sent her in, Neil," he said reproachfully. "Yes; why have you come back so soon? Anything wrong?" "Yes," said the young man hoarsely. "Your father? I'll come on." "No, no. Read that." He thrust a telegram into Neil's hand, which read: "To join your ship at once. Imperative!" "Yes; and I cannot go with matters like this," cried Beck. "But you must. Your position as an officer is at stake." "I can't help it. Neil Elthorne, put yourself in my place. How can I go and leave Isabel at such a time?" "What good could you do if you stayed?" "It would help her. She would know I was near. I can't go and leave her knowing what I do about that fellow Burwood." Neil looked at him fixedly for a few moments. "Don't play the boy," he said at last sternly.