Marston looked down the river. Long rows of lights pricked out the dock walls that narrowed to a dark gap in the distance. Low constellations marked the ferry landing stages, and in the stream other lights, colored green and red, moved swiftly up and down. In the background were misty towers and spires. Whistles shrieked and one heard the splash of paddles and the throb of propellers, for the commerce of two cities floated up on the tide. Bob's imagination was sometimes dull, but the river noises moved him then. He got a hint of ordered effort and useful activity. Sober men brought home the ships and controlled the trade that extended across the world. Perhaps, if one looked for it with understanding, there was a romance about this far-spread trade, but of one kind of romance Bob had had enough. "We will go to the car," he said presently, with quiet happiness. "I've got back and you are with me. I have all I want. Coming up channel, my satisfaction was half spoiled; the trouble waiting Flora haunted me. Then, to some extent, I felt I hadn't justified her trust. I'd promised to see Harry out, and I brought him home like that." "If you had not been very staunch, he might not have come home at all. But will he always be disfigured?" "The mark of the bullet won't wear off and he will never talk easily. For the rest, the Kingston doctor wasn't very encouraging. He said Harry had obviously borne a crushing strain for long, and now it had broken him, we mustn't look for a quick recovery. Still he was young and proper treatment in England would help. Well, his meeting Flora is over and I've got rid of a load." "You ought not to have been afraid for Flora." "I see this now; she was wonderful," Marston agreed. "Human nature's rather mixed and some is pretty base metal, but you feel that Flora's almost without alloy." Mabel smiled. "I like you when you're romantic, Bob; but even then you're cautious." "Oh, well," said Marston. "After all, I only know one girl who is pure gold." "Now you're quite extravagant, but you're very nice indeed," Mabel replied, and their car rolled up. Next evening Mabel went with Bob to Wyndham's small house. Wyndham, looking pale and jaded, occupied an easy chair by the fire and Mabel ordered him not to get up. "I have been to the office and all is going well," Marston remarked. "Next week you can come down for perhaps an hour a day. We won't need you longer and I mean to be firm. Nevis tells me he won't stay. I imagine he doesn't approve my methods, but I'd rather expected this and think I've got a better man." "If you're satisfied----" said Wyndham, smiling. "Since Nevis began at the office, I suppose you feel he belongs to the old state of things."