he made it, he might have been a partner in the firm.  However, he rejoiced in the success he had attained, and, to admiring neophytes who gazed in admiration on his perilous achievement of rather reckless living and success in gaining the confidence of his employers, he explained the marvel by uttering his favorite adage in his own peculiar style:  “Business before pleasure!  By George!  That’s the doctrine!  A merchant don’t care how fast you go to the devil out of hours, if you keep his business straight.  Business before pleasure!  That’s the ticket!  He! he!  By George!”

When evening came, and Charlton felt that he had but one more day of standing guard, his hopes rose, he talked to Isabel Marlay with something of exultation.  And he thought it due to Miss Marlay to ask her to make one of the boating-party.  They went to the hotel, where Miss Minorkey joined them.  Albert found it much more convenient walking with three ladies than with two.  Isa and Katy walked on arm-in-arm, and left Albert to his tete-a-tete with Helen.  And as Sunday evening would be the very last on which he should see her before leaving for the East, he found it necessary to walk slowly and say much.  For lovers who see each other a great deal, have more to say the more they are together.

At the lake a disappointment met them.  The old pine boat was in use.  It was the evening of the launching of the new sail-boat, “The Lady of the Lake,” and there was a party of people on the shore.  Two young men, in a spirit of burlesque and opposition, had seized on the old boat and had chalked upon her bow, “The Pirate’s Bride.”  With this they were rowing up and down the lake, and exciting much merriment in the crowd on the shore.

Ben Towle, who was one of the principal stockholders in “The Lady of the Lake,” and who had been suspected of a tender regard for Isabel Marlay, promptly offered Albert and his party seats in the boat on her first trip.  There were just four vacancies, he said.  The three ladies had stepped aboard, and Albert was following, when the ex-sailor who held the rudder touched his arm and said, “I don’t think it’s safe, Mr. Charlton, fer nobody else to git in.  She’s got ’leven now, and ef the wind freshens, twelve would be dangerous.”

“Oh!  I’ll stay out!” said Albert, retreating.

“Come, Albert, take my place,” said Towle.  “You’re welcome to it.”

“No, I won’t, Ben; you sit still, and I’ll stand on the shore and cheer.”

Just as the boat was about to leave her moorings, Smith Westcott came up and insisted on getting in.

“’Twon’t do, Mr. Wes’cott.  ’Ta’n’t safe,” said the helmsman.  “I jest begged Mr. Charlton not to go.  She’s got a full load now.”