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He admitted frankly to himself that he had always hoped to marry

her when he had acquired the quarter interest in Bill Boughton's

fishstand that had been promised him, but he had not told her so,

nor did he know that she would accept him. The idea had been one

to be thought of only at times of quietness and confidence in his

future such as come to every man.

But he had not reckoned on Nat Burns. He had not realized quite

to what an extent Burns had made progress. He recalled, now that

it was brought forcibly home to him, that Nat had been constantly

at the Tanners' for the last four or five months. But Code had

thought nothing of this, for Nat had paid similar court at times

to others of the girls of Freekirk Head. He was, in fact,

considered the village beau.

And Nellie herself had told him nothing. There had been a modest

shyness about her in their relations that had kept him at an

exasperating and piquant distance.