"No: not yet. I have something to say," she murmured almost in a whisper. "If--I die--my little child--Christie Bayle? She--she loves you!" Millicent Hallam's eyes filled up the gaps in her feeble speech, and Christie Bayle read her wish as if it had been sounded trumpet-tongued in his ears. "Yes; I understand. I will," he said in a voice that was more convincing than if he had spoken on oath. By that time the news which the postboys had caught as it ran from lip to lip, before Christie Bayle could force his way through the crowd at Lindum assize court, was flashing, as such news can flash through a little inquisitive town like Castor, and, almost at the same moment as Christie Bayle made his promise, old Gemp stumbled into Gorringe's shop to point at him and pant out: "Transportation for life!" VOLUME THREE, CHAPTER ONE. AFTER TWELVE YEARS--BACK FROM A VOYAGE. "Why, my dear Sir Gordon, I am glad to see you back again. You look brown and hearty, and not a day older." "Don't--don't shake quite so hard, my dear Bayle. I like it, but it hurts. Little gouty in that hand, you see." "Well, I'll be careful. I am glad you came." "That's right, that's right. Come down to my club and dine, and we'll have a long talk; and--er--don't take any notice of the jokes if you hear any." "Jokes?" "Ye-es. The men have a way there--the old fellows--of calling me `Laurel,' and `Yew,' and the `Evergreen.' You see, I look well and robust for my age." "Not a bit, Sir Gordon. You certainly seem younger, though, than ever." "So do you, Bayle; so do you. Why, you must be--" "Forty-two, Sir Gordon. Getting an old man, you see." "Forty! Pooh! what's that, Mr Bayle? Why, sir, I'm--Never mind. I'm not so young as I used to be. And so you think I look well, eh, Bayle?" "Indeed you do, Sir Gordon; remarkably well." "Hah! That confounded Scott! Colonel Scott at the club set it about that I'd been away for two years so as to get myself cut down and have time to sprout up again, I looked so young. Bah, what does it matter? It's the sea life, Bayle, keeps a man healthy and strong. I wish I could persuade you to come with me on one of my trips." "No, no! Keep away with your temptations. Too busy." "Nonsense, man! Fellow with your income grinding day after day as you do. But how young you do look! How is Mrs Hallam?" "Remarkably well. I saw her yesterday." "And little Julie?" "Little!" said Christie Bayle laughing frankly, and justifying Sir Gordon's remarks about his youthful looks. "Really, I should like to be there when you call. You will be astonished." "What, has the child grown?" "Child? Grown? Why, my dear sir, you will have to be presented to a beautiful young lady of eighteen, wonderfully like her mother in the old days."