"Your word is enough for me, Mr. Bines." "Miss Milbrey--you and I--there's always been something between us--something different from what is between most people. We've never talked straight out since I came to New York--I'll be sorry, perhaps, for saying as much as I am saying, after awhile--but we may not talk again at all--I'm afraid you may misunderstand me--but I must say it--I should like to go away knowing you would have no friendship,--no intimacy whatever with that woman." "I promise you I shall not, Mr. Bines; they can row if they like." "And yet it doesn't seem fair to have you promise as if it were a consideration for _me_, because I've no right to ask it. But if I felt sure that you took my word quite as if I were a stranger, and relied upon it enough to have no communication or intercourse of any sort whatsoever with her, it would be a great satisfaction to me." "I shall not meet her again. And--thank you!" There was a slight unsteadiness once in her voice, and he could almost have sworn her eyes showed that old brave wistfulness. "--and quite as if you were a stranger." "Thank you! and, Miss Milbrey?" "Yes?" "Your brother may become entangled in some way with this woman." "It's entirely possible." Her voice was cool and even again. "He might even marry her." "She has money, I believe; he might indeed." "Always money!" he thought; then aloud: "If you find he means to, Miss Milbrey, do anything you can to prevent it. It wouldn't do at all, you know." "Thank you, Mr. Bines; I shall remember." "I--I think that's all--and I'm sorry we're not--our families are not to be friends any more." She smiled rather painfully, with an obvious effort to be conventional. "_So_ sorry! Good-bye!" He looked after her as she drove off. She sat erect, her head straight to the front, her trim shoulders erect, and the whip grasped firmly. He stood motionless until the fat pony had jolted sleepily around the corner. "Bines, old boy!" he said to himself, "you nearly _made_ one of yourself there. I didn't know you had such ready capabilities for being an ass." CHAPTER XXVI. A Hot Day in New York, with News of an Interesting Marriage At five o'clock that day the prow of the _Viluca_ cut the waters of Newport harbour around Goat Island, and pointed for New York. "Now is your time," said Mrs. Drelmer to Mauburn. "I'm sure the girl likes you, and this row with the Milbreys has cut off any chance that cub had. Why not propose to her to-night?" "I _have_ seemed to be getting on," answered Mauburn. "But wait a bit. There's that confounded girl over there. No telling what she'll do. She might knock things on the head any moment." "All the more reason for prompt action, and there couldn't very well be anything to hurt you." "By Jove! that's so; there couldn't, very well, could there? I'll take your advice."