“I hope you won’t think I mean to stay as much too late as I have come too early,” he laughed.  “I must go away soon after tea, for I have promised to talk with the captain of a schooner which is to sail in the morning.  Mr. Wills luckily found out that he could give some evidence in a case we are working up.”

“The collision?” asked Captain Parish, eagerly.  “I was wondering to-day when I saw the Highflyer’s foremast between the buildings on Fleet Street as I went to meeting, if they were going to let her lie there and dry-rot.  I don’t think she’s being taken proper care of.  I must say I hate to see a good vessel go to ruin when there’s no need of it.”

“The man in charge was recommended very highly, and everything seemed to be all right when I was on board one day this week,” said young Gerry, good-naturedly, and turned to explain to Nan that this vessel had been damaged by collision with another, and the process of settling the matter by litigation had been provokingly slow.

The captain listened with impatience.  “I dare say she looked very well to your eyes, but I’d rather have an old ship-master’s word for it than a young lawyer’s.  I haven’t boarded her for some weeks; I dare say ’twas before the snow was gone; but she certainly needed attention then.  I saw some bad-looking places in the sheathing and planking.  There ought to be a coat of paint soon, and plenty of tar carried aloft besides, or there’ll be a long bill for somebody to pay before she’s seaworthy.”

“I wish you would make a careful inspection of her,” said the young man, with gratifying deference.  “I don’t doubt that it is necessary; I will see that you are well satisfied for your services.  Of course the captain himself should have stayed there and kept charge, but you remember he was sick and had to resign.  He looks feeble yet.  I hope nothing will happen to him before the matter is settled up, but we are sure of the trial in September.”

“She’s going to be rigged with some of your red tape, I’m afraid,” said Captain Parish, with great friendliness.  “I don’t see any reason why I can’t look her over to-morrow morning, I’m obliged to you, or at least make a beginning,” and he gave a most knowing nod at Nan, as if they would divide the pleasure.  “I’ll make the excuse of showing this young lady the construction of a good-sized merchant vessel, and then the keeper can’t feel affronted.  She is going to take a stroll with me along the wharves,” he concluded triumphantly.  While Mr. Gerry looked wistful for a moment, and Miss Prince quickly took advantage of a pause in the conversation to ask if he knew whether anything pleasant was going forward among the young people this week.  She did not wish her niece to have too dull a visit.

“Some of us are going up the river very soon,” said the young man, with eager pleasure, looking at Nan.  “It would be so pleasant if Miss Prince would join us.  We think our Dunport supper parties of that sort would be hard to match.”