Thus Stephen had, or fancied he had, ample reason to
regard James Kirkwood with distrust, — and yet the
extreme candor and affability of that gentieman almost
made him, for a moment, ashamed of his suspiciona
Meantime, his father continued .the conversation :

" But by what magical process do you find your way
to The Eest, my son ? Your letter stated you had taken
passage in the Stromholiy and your name was certainly in
the list of passengers. We thought you were by this time
in England."

" I was about to put your question to this gentleman,
sir. 1 had expected that he as well as myself would, by
this time, have been in England. He took passage in the

A , and his name was, to my knowledge, in the list of

passengers I"

" You surprise me," said Kirkwood blandly. " My name
is not so very common ; — ^but your mistake obviously
arises from there being another wno may, or may not, have
the right to bear it."

"Do you mean," cried Stephen, "that you did not
engage passage by the A ?"



BEFORE THE STORM. 67

" How could I have done so," answered the other with
perfect simplicity, " since you perceive I am here ?"

" It is tolerably clear," quoth Stephen, " that you did not
sail by that vessel, but the retaining passage, of course, is
a dififerent thing."

" My dear young friend, I assure you, I did neither the
one nor the other."

" And would you have me believe," pressed Stephen,
" that you were ignorant that I was in earnest quest of
youT'

" On the contrary," replied Kirkwood frankly, " it was
my knowledge of that very fact which brings me here at
this moment in order that you might be gratified."

Stephen looked inquiringly at his father.
