Chapter 6 - Page 2

since in Malta. Le
Neve snatched at the word; for he was eager to learn all he could
about the Trevennacks' movements, so deeply had Cleer already
impressed her image on his susceptible nature.

"And when do you go back there?" he asked, somewhat anxiously. "I
suppose your father's leave is for a week or two only."

"Oh, dear, no; we don't go back at all, thank heaven," Cleer answered,
with a sunny smile. "I can't bear exile, Mr. Le Neve, and I never
cared one bit for living in Malta. But this year, fortunately, papa's
going to be transferred for a permanence to England; he's to have
charge of a department that has something or other to do with
provisioning the Channel Squadron; I don't quite understand what; but
anyhow, he'll have to be running about between Portsmouth and
Plymouth, and I don't know where else; and mamma and I will have to
take a house for ourselves in London."

Le Neve's face showed his pleasure. "That's well," he answered,
briskly. "Then you won't be quite lost! I mean, there'll be some
chance at least when you go away from here of one's seeing you
sometimes."

A bright red spot rose deep on Cleer's cheek through the dark olive-
brown skin. "How kind of you to say so," she answered, looking down.
"I'm sure mamma'll be very pleased, indeed, if you'll take the trouble
to call." Then, to hide her confusion, she went on hastily, "And are
YOU going to be in England, too? I thought I understood the other day
from your friend you had something to do with a railway in South
America."

"Oh, that's all over now," Le Neve answered, with a wave, well pleased
she should ask him about his whereabouts so cordially. "I was only
employed in the construction of the line, you know; I've nothing at
all to do with its maintenance and working, and now the track's laid,
my work there's finished. But as to stopping in England,--ah--that's
quite another thing. An engineer's, you know, is a roving life. He's
here to-day and there to-morrow. I must go, I suppose, wherever work
may take me. And there isn't much stirring in the markets just now in
the way of engineering."

"I hope you'll get something at home," Cleer said, simply, with a
blush, and then blamed herself for saying it. She blushed again at the
thought. She looked prettiest when she blushed. Walter Tyrrel, a
little behind, stood and admired her all the while. But Eustace was
flattered she should think of wanting him to remain in England.

"Thank you," he said, somewhat timidly, for her bashfulness made him a
trifle bashful in return. "I should like to very much--for more
reasons than