But even sooner than he expected did Jimmy see Mr. Bassett, for almost the first passenger as he had for Greenway next day was William.  This man owned best part of a square mile of the famous Dittisham plum orchards, and he had a bit of house property nigh St. George’s Church also, and was one of our most prosperous people at that time.  He was a widower, old enough to be Christie’s father; but after five wifeless years he decided to wed again, and having a cheerful conceit of himself and his cash, and reckoning that he had only to drop the handkerchief to any female, decided on Christie Morrison, because her temper was golden and her figure fine, and her character above reproach.  As for Bassett, he had a flat face, like a skate, with a slit for a mouth and little pin-point eyes overhung with red hair.  He was forty-five and growing bald and his left leg gave at the knee.  He was a good sort really, and did kind things for his poorer neighbours.  There was a touch of the romantical in him also, and he liked the thought of marrying a pretty girl and making her mistress of his plum orchards and mother of his heir.  Because his first had failed him in that matter.

And now, as Fox ferried William over the water on a crisp October morning, he bade him waste no more time, but begin to court Christie like a lover if so be he wanted her.

“We’re your side as you know,” said Jimmy Fox, “and my wife and I are very wishful to see it happen; but you’ve got to set on to her, for she’s young and a fine sight in the eyes of her own generation.  In fact she may fall in love any minute with something better to look at than you.”

But William weren’t frightened of that.

“She’s got a lot of sense, and knows which side her bread is buttered,” he said.  “She won’t trouble about another when she hears I want her.  Because she knows my character, and can count on having a very good time along with me.  I’ll ax her to tea Sunday, and tell her I’ll wed her when she pleases.  No need to waste time love-making with a shrewd piece like her.  She’ll come to me and we’ll be married afore Christmas.  Then she’ll know what it is to wed a romantical man.”

“I hope you’ll find it as easy as you think for,” answered Jimmy, “but you can’t take nothing for granted with a maiden girl.  However, as you wish it and I wish it, so it’s got to be.  We’ve brought her up, and her future lies with us.”

“And me,” added Bassett, and then the boat touched and he was across.

Christie got her invite to tea that evening and agreed to go.  Her aunt had given her an inkling of what was coming; but she hadn’t given her aunt an inkling of what had already come, though she might have, and when Polly Fox told her that William wanted her on a very delicate errand, and she must put on her best and look her best, Christie said nothing of the big matter in her own mind.  For she very well knew that the Saturday before she went to tea at Mr. Bassett’s big red house in the plum orchards, she was promised for a walk to Edmund Master’s, and she had a certain belief that before that walk was done Master Teddy would ask her a vital question.