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her and Harold Denver。 In her heart of hearts Clara； like every good
woman； was a match…maker； and already she had chosen Denver of all
men as the one to whom she could most safely confide Ida。 He had
talked to her more than once on the serious topics of life； on his
aspirations； on what a man could do to leave the world better for his
presence。 She knew that he was a man of a noble nature； high…minded
and earnest。 And yet she did not like this secrecy； this disinclination
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upon the part of one so frank and honest as Ida to tell her what was
passing。 She would wait； and if she got the opportunity next day she
would lead Harold Denver himself on to this topic。 It was possible that
she might learn from him what her sister had refused to tell her。
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CHAPTER V。
A NAVAL CONQUEST。
It was the habit of the Doctor and the Admiral to accompany each
other upon a morning ramble between breakfast and lunch。 The dwellers
in those quiet tree…lined roads were accustomed to see the two figures； the
long； thin； austere seaman； and the short； bustling； tweed…clad physician；
pass and repass with such regularity that a stopped clock has been reset by
them。 The Admiral took two steps to his companion's three； but the
younger man was the quicker； and both were equal to a good four and a
half miles an hour。
It was a lovely summer day which followed the events which have
been described。 The sky was of the deepest blue； with a few white；
fleecy clouds drifting lazily across it； and the air was filled with the low
drone of insects or with a sudden sharper note as bee or bluefly shot past
with its quivering； long…drawn hum； like an insect tuning…fork。 As the
friends topped each rise which leads up to the Crystal Palace； they could
see the dun clouds of London stretching along the northern sky…line； with
spire or dome breaking through the low…lying haze。 The Admiral was in
high spirits； for the morning post had brought good news to his son。
〃It is wonderful； Walker；〃 he was saying； 〃positively wonderful； the
way that boy of mine has gone ahead during the last three years。 We
heard from Pearson to…day。 Pearson is the senior partner； you know； and
my boy the juniorPearson and Denver the firm。 Cunning old dog is
Pearson； as cute and as greedy as a Rio shark。 Yet he goes off for a
fortnight's leave； and puts my boy in full charge； with all that immense
business in his hands； and a freehand to do what he likes with it。 How's
that for confidence； and he only three years upon 'Change？〃
〃Any one would confide in him。 His face is a surety；〃 said the
Doctor。
〃Go on； Walker！〃 The Admiral dug his elbow at him。 〃You know
my weak side。 Still it's truth all the same。 I've been blessed with a good
wife and a good son； and maybe I relish them the more for having been cut
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off from them so long。 I have much to be thankful for！〃
〃And so have I。 The best two girls that ever stepped。 There's Clara；
who has learned up as much medicine as would give her the L。S。A。；
simply in order that she may sympathize with me in my work。 But hullo；
what is this coming along？〃
〃All drawing and the wind astern！〃 cried the Admiral。 〃Fourteen
knots if it's one。 Why； by George； it is that woman！〃
A rolling cloud of yellow dust had streamed round the curve of the
road； and from the heart of it had emerged a high tandem tricycle flying
along at a breakneck pace。 In front sat Mrs。 Westmacott clad in a heather
tweed pea…jacket； a skirt which just｛？｝ passed her knees and a pair of
thick gaiters of the same material。 She had a great bundle of red papers
under her arm； while Charles； who sat behind her clad in Norfolk jacket
and knickerbockers； bore a similar roll protruding from either pocket。
Even as they watched； the pair eased up； the lady sprang off； impaled one
of her bills upon the garden railing of an empty house； and then jumping
on to her seat again was about to hurry onwards when her nephew drew
her attention to the two gentlemen upon the footpath。
〃Oh； now； really I didn't notice you；〃 said she； taking a few turns of the
treadle and steering the machine across to them。 〃Is it not a beautiful
morning？〃
〃Lovely；〃 answered the Doctor。 〃You seem to be very busy。〃
〃I am very busy。〃 She pointed to the colored paper which still fluttered
from the railing。 〃We have been pushing our propaganda； you see。
Charles and I have been at it since seven o'clock。 It is about our meeting。
I wish it to be a great success。 See！〃 She smoothed out one of the bills；
and the Doctor read his own name in great black letters across the bottom。
〃We don't forget our chairman； you see。 Everybody is coming。
Those two dear little old maids opposite； the Williamses； held out for some
time； but I have their promise now。 Admiral； I am sure that you wish us
well。〃
〃Hum！ I wish you no harm； ma'am。〃
〃You will come on the platform？〃
〃I'll be No； I don't think I can do that。〃
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〃To our meeting； then？〃
〃No； ma'am； I don't go out after dinner。〃
〃Oh yes； you will come。 I will call in if I may； and chat it over with
you when you come home。 We have not breakfasted yet。 Goodbye！〃
There was a whir of wheels； and the yellow cloud rolled away down the
road again。 By some legerdemain the Admiral found that he was
clutching in his right hand one of the obnoxious bills。 He crumpled it up；
and threw it into the roadway。
〃I'll be hanged if I go； Walker；〃 said he； as be resumed his walk。 〃I've
never been hustled into doing a thing yet； whether by woman or man。〃
〃I am not a betting man；〃 answered the Doctor； 〃but I rather think that
the odds are in favor of your going。〃
The Admiral had hardly got home； and had just seated himself in his
dining…room； when the attack upon him was renewed。 He was slowly
and lovingly unfolding the Times preparatory to the long read which led
up to luncheon； and had even got so far as to fasten his golden pince…nez
on to his thin； high…bridged nose； when he heard a crunching of gravel；
and； looking over the top of his paper； saw Mrs。 Westmacott coming up
the garden walk。 She was still dressed in the singular costume which
offended the sailor's old…fashioned notions of propriety； but he could not
deny； as he looked at her； that she was a very fine woman。 In many
climes he had looked upon women of all shades and ages； but never upon
a more clearcut； handsome face； nor a more erect； supple； and womanly
figure。 He ceased to glower as he gazed upon her； and the frown
smoothed away from his rugged brow。
〃May I come in？〃 said she； framing herself in the open window； with a
background of green sward and blue sky。 〃I feel like an invader deep in
an enemy's country。〃
〃It is a very welcome invasion； ma'am；〃 said he； clearing his throat and
pulling at his high collar。 〃Try this garden chair。 What is there that I
can do for you？ Shall I ring and let Mrs。 Denver know that you are
here？〃
〃Pray do not trouble； Admiral。 I only looked in with reference to our
little chat this morning。 I wish that you would give