“I am going to build a yacht of a hundred tons. I have the model and draughts all made. You shall superintend the work, and Mr. Birch will employ you part of the time in taking charge of my houses at the Port and at the Mills. While I am gone, he will keep you busy.” “Thank you, sir; I am very much obliged to you.” “When the yacht is done, you will have charge of her.” Nothing could have suited Ross better, and he was Eugene’s friend for life. Dick wanted such a person to assist him, and it had been decided, weeks before, that Mary’s brother should be employed as soon as he returned. “Ross,” said Eugene, as he stepped into his boat, “if you hear anything from Mary, I want you to write me.” “I will.” “Give your letter to Mr. Birch, and he will forward it to me.” “Yes, sir; I will. I hope she will do well. If her husband don’t do the right thing by her,”--he paused, and looked what he meant,--“it will be all the worse for him.” “I hope he will be a good husband to her.” “I hope so; but I wish she hadn’t gone off with him,” added Ross. “I suppose I may as well go over and see Mr. Birch, and go to work to-day.” “You need not commence till you are ready. You have just returned, and you may wish to stay at home a few days.” “There is nothing there I care for now,” he replied, sadly. “How is your father now?” “About the same; he don’t improve any. He is very hard on Mary, and if she came home, I shouldn’t dare to have her go near him.” Ross went up to the Port with Eugene, and reported to Dick Birch for duty. He was a ship carpenter by trade, and worked at the business when there was anything doing at the Port; and his natural tact and ingenuity, as well as the miscellaneous occupations in which he had been engaged, rendered him an exceedingly useful person to Eugene’s agent. He made the contract with the builders for the yacht, and the keel was immediately laid down. In the mean time, the eminent trustees in Baltimore continued to forward the income of the three millions to Eugene, and there was no want of money to carry on the operations which had been commenced. A general power of attorney was given to Dick by his principal, to transact all business in his absence. The agent moved from the cottage to the hotel, and the Hungerford family started for Boston to embark for Europe on the first Wednesday in September. It was observed that Dick Birch was a little shaken when he took leave of Julia; that though he kept up a running fire of sharp words all the time, he could hardly conceal a disposition to mope and to relapse into moodiness. “Good by, Dick; do for me as you would do for yourself, but remember that only half a million, instead of three millions, is to come to me at the end of the seven years,” said Eugene. “That matter cannot be decided at present,” replied Dick. “You may bring a wife home with you.” “No!” “Good by, Mr. Birch,” said Julia, taking his hand. “Good by, Miss Hungerford. Don’t forget me while you are gone.”