The light faded as they crept across the inlet before a faint breeze, but when they had got the anchor over and the boat into the water, Carroll made out two dim figures standing on the wharf and waved a hand to them. "It's Drayton, I think," he said. "Kitty's with him." They pulled ashore, and Drayton shook hands with them. "I've been looking out for you since noon," he said. "What about that spruce?" There was eagerness in his voice, and Vane's face clouded. "We couldn't find a trace of it." Drayton's disappointment was obvious, though he tried to hide it. "Well," he said resignedly, "I've no doubt you did all you could." "Of course," Kitty broke in. "We're quite sure of that." Vane thanked her with a glance; he felt sorry for her and Drayton. They were strongly attached to each other, and he had reason for believing that even with the advanced salary the man expected to get they would find it needful to study strict economy. "I'm going to make another attempt. I expect some of our difficulties will vanish after I've had a talk with Hartley," he said. Kitty looked grave. "That's impossible," she answered softly. "Hartley died a week ago." Vane started. "I'm sorry," he said. "How's Celia?" "She's very sick." There was concern in Kitty's voice. "Hartley got worse soon after you left, and she sat up all night with him after her work for the last two weeks. Now she's broken down, and she doesn't seem to know if they'll take her back again at the hotel." "I must go and see her," said Vane. "But won't you and Drayton come with us and have dinner?" Drayton explained that this was out of the question--Kitty's employer, who had driven in that afternoon, was waiting with his team; and the party left the wharf together. A few minutes later, Vane shook hands with the girl and her companion. "Don't lose heart," he said. "We're far from beaten yet." They separated, and after dinner Vane, who rejoiced in the unusual luxury of clean, dry clothes, walked across to call on Nairn. He was shown into a room where Jessie Horsfield was sitting, but she rose with a slight start when he came in. Vane, who had been preoccupied since he had heard Kitty's news, did not notice it, and Jessie's manner was reposeful and quietly friendly when she held out her hand. "So you have come back?" she said. "Have you succeeded in your search?" Vane was gratified. It was pleasant to feel that she was interested in his undertaking. "No," he confessed. "I'm afraid I have failed." "Then," said Jessie, with reproach in her voice, "you have disappointed me." It was skilful flattery, since she had conveyed the impression that she had expected him to succeed, which implied that she held a high opinion of his abilities. "After all, you must have had a good deal against you," she resumed consolingly. "Won't you sit down and tell me about it? Nairn, I understand, is writing some letters, and he sent for Mrs. Nairn just before you came in."