With a gesture his hostess indicated her husband and Bethune.
“They’re getting keen, but I must say that Tom’s not often mistaken in business matters. He seems to think your prospects are good.”
“We must try to make them good,” Jimmy responded. “It was a fortunate thing for us that we met your husband. We were in a very tight place when he helped us.”
“I’ve wondered why you didn’t go to sea again before that happened. It would have been the easiest way out of your troubles.”
“I had a strong reason for not wishing to leave the province.”
“Ah!” exclaimed Mrs. Jaques, and beamed upon him. “I understand. I hope you have made a wise choice. Falling in love is rather a serous thing. I suppose she’s pretty?”
“So you stayed in Vancouver on her account! She would naturally wish to keep you.”
“I have no reason for believing that,” Jimmy answered with a downcast expression.
Mrs. Jaques gave him a searching look before she finished her sentence:
“—that you don’t know whether she is fond of you or not?”
Jimmy hesitated, and the blood crept into his face as he thought of the night he had helped Ruth out of the launch.
“It may be a long time before I find out,” he said. “The trouble is that she’s a rich man’s daughter.”
“What is his name? Your confidence is safe.”
Mrs. Jaques showed her surprise, and Jimmy laughed.
“Oh, of course you think I’m mad. Now and then I feel sure of it myself.”
She studied him quietly for a moment. He was handsome, and had an honest, good-humored face, but there was a hint of force in it. He looked reliable, a man to trust, and Mrs. Jaques had a warm liking for him.
“No,” she said; “I don’t think so. Perhaps you’re rash; but, after all, daring’s better than cautious timidity—it carries one farther. Of course, there will be difficulties; but I wouldn’t despair. This a country where a bold man has many chances.”
“Thank you,” murmured Jimmy. “You have made me hopeful.” He looked up abruptly as Bethune addressed him. “Oh, yes,” he said hastily. “Quite so.”
“Quite so!” exclaimed Bethune. “My impression is that you haven’t heard a word I said.”
“I believe that’s possible,” Mrs. Jaques laughed. “However, he has a good excuse. You can’t blame him for talking to me.”
The party broke up soon afterward, and the next morning the sloop sailed for Victoria. Jimmy spent several anxious days in the city before he got a telegram from Bethune informing him that he had come to terms with the underwriters. They were more liberal than Jimmy had hoped, and he thought there should be money enough to launch the new venture in a modest way. He gave the express company orders to deliver the gold, and then set off to visit Osborne.