“Bring him along,” said the son, impatiently.  “It’s a waste of time talking to him.”

Mr. Carter took a step back and parleyed.  “I’ll come along with you of my own free will,” he said, hastily, “just to show you that you are wrong; but I won’t be forced.”

He turned and walked back with them towards the town, pausing occasionally to admire the view.  Once he paused so long that an ominous growl arose from the elder of his captors.

“I was just thinking,” said Mr. Carter, eying him in consternation; “suppose that she makes the same mistake that you have made?  Oh, Lord!”

“Keeps it up pretty well, don’t he, Jim?” said the father.

The other grunted and, drawing nearer to Mr. Carter as they entered the town, stepped along in silence.  Questions which Mr. Carter asked with the laudable desire of showing his ignorance concerning the neighborhood elicited no reply.  His discomfiture was increased by the behavior of an elderly boatman, who, after looking at him hard, took his pipe from his mouth and bade him “Good-evening.”  Father and son exchanged significant glances.

[Illustration:  “An elderly boatman, who, after looking at him hard, took his pipe from his mouth and bade him ‘Good-evening.’”]

They turned at last into a small street, and the elder man, opening the door of a neat cottage, laid his hand on the prisoner’s shoulder and motioned him in.  Mr. Carter obeyed, and, entering a spotless living-room, removed his hat and with affected composure seated himself in an easy-chair.

“I’ll go up and tell Nan,” said Jim.  “Don’t let him run away.”

He sprang up the stairs, which led from a corner of the room, and the next moment the voice of a young lady, laboring under intense excitement, fell on the ears of Mr. Carter.  With a fine attempt at unconcern he rose and inspected an aged engraving of “The Sailor’s Return.”

“She’ll be down in a minute,” said Jim, returning

“P’r’aps it’s as well that I didn’t set about him, after all,” said his father.  “If I had done what I should like to do, his own mother wouldn’t have known him.”

Mr. Carter sniffed defiantly and, with a bored air, resumed his seat.  Ten minutes passed—­fifteen; at the end of half an hour the elder man’s impatience found vent in a tirade against the entire sex.

“She’s dressing up; that’s what it is,” explained Jim.  “For him!”

A door opened above and a step sounded on the stairs.  Mr. Carter looked up uneasily, and, after the first sensation of astonishment had passed, wondered vaguely what his double had run away for.  The girl, her lips parted and her eyes bright, came swiftly down into the room.

“Where is he?” she said, quickly.

“Eh?” said her father, in surprise.  “Why, there!  Can’t you see?”

The light died out of the girl’s face and she looked round in dismay.  The watchful Mr. Carter thought that he also detected in her glance a spice of that temper which had made her relatives so objectionable.