"Why, the light-house. Struck by lightning in the storm. Didn't you
see it, Sir?"
"Oh yes, of course, certainly."
"I'm just after telegraphing to the Governor and the
Receiver-General. The old light has gone out with the tide, Sir, and
it will be middlin' bad for the boats coming in at night until we get
a new one."
"It will, Captain, it will. Good-morning!"
His eyes were positively shining with joy as he walked sharply
through the town, and as he opened his door he was saying to himself
again,
"I must do the right, _whatever_ it may cost me."
He was closing the door on the inside when he saw in the letter-box
the letter which had caught his eye last night. Now he could open it.
It was marked "Immediate." Recognising the Ballamoar crest and
Janet's handwriting, he trembled and turned pale.
"A line in frantic haste, dear, to say I have just heard from
Miss Green that Fenella is crossing by the steamer due to arrive
at eight o'clock this evening. She has left her Settlement and
is coming back to stay in the island for good. I thought you
might like to go up to Douglas to meet her. Trust me, dear, she
will be simply delighted.
"Robbie Creer is taking this into town by hand, so that you may
receive it at the earliest possible moment. I am frightfully
excited, and oh, so glad and happy."
Stowell reeled and laid hold of the hand-rail. And when at length he
went upstairs he staggered as if he were carrying a crushing load.