"No," she said, relenting visibly, "your word is enough. I do believe you, and I am almost happy again. So long as you do not desert me, even Alfred loses half his terrors!" "Exactly," he said; "and now, if you will excuse me, I'll just run up on deck and settle this other business." He went up to the hurricane-deck, and found the ship had anchored. In front was a huge barren rock, with lines of forts, walls, and telegraph poles; and at its base, a small white town huddled. They had arrived at Gibraltar, which accounted for the absence of motion. As he stood there, taking this in, he was accosted by Sir William Tyrrell, who thrust his arm through Peter's in a friendly manner. "My dear boy," said the Judge heartily, "Violet has just told me the good news. I can only say that I am delighted--most delighted! I have always felt a warm interest in you, ever since that affair of----" "Of the monkey," said Peter. "I am very glad to hear it, Sir William; but--but I ought to tell you that I am afraid Miss Tyrrell was--a little premature. She misinterpreted a remark of mine, which, in point of fact, referred to somebody else altogether." "Then you have no more reason than before for assuming that your _fiançée_ has thrown you over. Am I to understand that?" "No more reason than before," admitted Peter. "And your uncertainty still continues? Very unsatisfactory, I must say! I do think, my dear fellow, that, in your position, you should have been more careful to refrain from betraying any interest in Violet until you knew that you were free to speak. As it is, you may have cast a shadow upon her young life that it will take years to dispel!" Peter's heart sank into his boots for very shame at this gentle and almost paternal reproof. "Yes," continued the worthy Judge, "Violet is a high-minded girl, scrupulously sensitive on points of honour; and, unless the young lady you are under a semi-engagement to should release you of her own free will, I know my daughter too well to doubt that she will counsel you to fulfil your contract and renounce all hope so far as she is concerned." Peter felt a little easier. "I--I am prepared to do that," he said. "Well, I don't say myself that I go quite so far as she does; but strictly, no doubt, a promise is a promise, and should be kept at all hazards. You have done all that a man can honourably do to put himself right. You have written to this young lady, so I understand, informing her of the change in your sentiments, and offering, nevertheless, to redeem your promise if she insisted upon it. I think that was the general purport of your letter?" Here was one more evil fruit of his extra time! What would Sophia think, or say, or do, if such a letter as that ever came to her knowledge? Fortunately, that at least was impossible! "You have some grounds," the Judge went on, "for assuming that the lady has already treated the contract as non-existent--a person called Alfred, I think my daughter said?"