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Charlie got up at last and laid sudden hands on his friend’s square shoulders.

“I think it wouldn’t hurt you to give me a straight answer, old boy,” he said, a flicker of something that was not mischief in his eyes.

Fisher faced him instantly.

“What is it you want to know?” he inquired bluntly.

“This only,” Charlie said, with perfect steadiness. “Are you going in for Miss Erle in solid earnest or are you not? I want to know your intentions, that’s all.”

“I can’t enlighten you, then,” returned Fisher.

Charlie laughed without effort.

“Cautious old duffer!” he said. “Well, tell me this! I’ve no right to ask it. Only somehow I’ve got to know. You care for her, don’t you?”

Fisher looked at him keenly for a moment. “Why do you ask?” he said.

“Oh, it’s infernal impertinence, of course. I admit that,” said Charlie, his tanned face growing suddenly red. “I suspected it, you see, ages ago–on board ship, in fact. Is it true, then?”

Fisher turned abruptly from him, and began to wind his watch with extreme care. He spoke at length with his back turned on Charlie, who was waiting with extraordinary patience for his answer.

“Yes,” he said deliberately. “It is true.”

“Go on and prosper!” said Charlie with a gay laugh. “You have my blessing, old chap. Thanks for telling me!”

He moved up to Fisher and thrust out an immense brown paw.

“Take a friend’s advice, man!” he said. “Ask her soon!”

Then he bounced out of the room with his usual brisk energy, and shut the door noisily behind him.

VII

Was it by happy accident or by some kind friend’s deliberate provision that Fisher found himself walking alone with Molly Erle to church on the following Sunday? Across the frosty park the voices of the other churchgoers sounded fitfully distinct.

Charlie Cleveland and another boy called Archie Croft, as hare-brained as himself, were making Mrs. Langdale slide along the slippery drive. Mrs. Langdale’s laughter could be plainly heard. Molly thought her, privately, rather childish to suffer herself to be thus carried away.

Her companion was sauntering very slowly at her side.

“I think we are late,” Molly presently remarked, in a suggestive tone.

“Are we?” said Fisher. “Does it matter?”

“Yes,” said Molly with decision. “I don’t like going in after the service has begun.”

“We won’t,” said Fisher.

She looked at him in some surprise and found him gravely watching her.

“I don’t think we ought to do that,” she remarked, smiling a little.

“I’ll go with you to-night,” said Fisher, “if you will come with me now.”

They had come to a path that branched off towards the shore. He stopped with an air of determination.

Molly stopped too, looking irresolute. Her heart was beating very fast. She wished he would turn his eyes away.

Suddenly he took his hand from his pocket and held it out to her.

“Come with me, Miss Erle!” he said, in a quiet tone.

She hesitated momentarily, then as he waited she put her hand in his.

She glanced up at him as she did so, her face a glow of colour.

“How far, Captain Fisher?” she said faintly.

“All the way,” said Fisher, with a sudden smile that illuminated his sombre countenance like a searchlight on a dark sea.

Molly laughed softly.

“How far is that?” she said.

He drew the little hand to his breast and put his free arm round her.

“Further than we can see, Molly,” he said, and his quiet voice suddenly thrilled. “Side by side through eternity.”

Thus, with no word of love, did Fisher the Silent take to himself the priceless gift of love. And the girl he wooed loved him the better for that which he left unuttered.

They returned home late for lunch, entering sheepishly, and sitting down as far apart as the length of the table would allow.

Charlie fell upon Fisher with merciless promptitude.

“You base defaulter!” he cried. “I’ll see you march in front next time. I was never more scandalised in my life than when I realised that you and Molly had done a slope.”