Vane, who saw that she meant it, lay smoking in silence for a minute or two. Then Carroll came up with Mrs. Marvin and the child, and he felt strongly stirred when the little girl walked up to him shyly with a basket filled with shells. He drew her down beside him, with an arm about her waist, while he examined her treasures, and then glancing up met Kitty's eyes and felt his face grow hot with an emotion he failed to analyse. The child was delicate; life had scanty pleasure to offer her, but now she was happy. "They're so pretty, and there are lots of them," she said. "Can't we stay here longer and gather some more?" "Yes," said Vane, conscious that Carroll, who had heard the question, was watching him. "You shall stay and get as many as you want. I'm afraid you don't like the sloop." "No," replied the child gravely, "I don't like it when it jumps. After I woke up it jumped all the time." "Never mind," said Vane. "The boat will keep still to-night, and I don't think there'll be any waves to roll her about to-morrow. We'll bring you ashore first thing in the morning." He talked to her for a few minutes, and then strolled along the beach with Carroll. "Why did you promise that child to stay here?" Carroll asked. "Because I felt like doing so." "I needn't remind you that you've an appointment with Horsfield about the smelter, and there's a meeting of the board next day. If we started now and caught the first steamer across, you wouldn't have much time to spare." "That's correct. I shall have to wire from Victoria that I've been detained." Carroll laughed expressively. "Do you mean to keep your directors waiting to please a child?" "I suppose that's one reason. Anyway, I don't propose to hustle the little girl and her mother on board the steamer helpless with sea sickness," He paused and a gleam of humour crept into his eyes. "As I told you, I've no objection to letting the directors wait my pleasure." "But they set the concern on its feet." "Just so," said Vane coolly. "On the other hand, they got excellent value for their services--and I found the mine. What's more, during the preliminary negotiations most of them treated me very casually." "Well?" said Carroll. "There's going to be a difference now, I've a board of directors; one way or another, I've had to pay for the privilege pretty dearly; but I don't intend that they should run the Clermont mine." Carroll glanced at him with open amusement. There had been a marked change in Vane since he had floated the company, but it was one that did not astonish his comrade. Carroll had long suspected him of latent capabilities, which had suddenly sprung to life. "You ought to see Horsfield before you meet the board," he pointed out. "I'm not sure," Vane answered. "In fact, I'm uncertain whether I'll give Horsfield the contract, even if we decide about the smelter. I don't want a man with too firm a hold up against me."