I could afford to
give you a hundred boats without hurting myself, so do not hesitate
for a moment in letting me know if I can help you. It will be a real
pleasure to me to do so."
Jacques kept his promise, and never missed coming over once year to
pay Ralph a visit, and as his five sons one after another grew up to
be able to manage boats for themselves, they were each presented one
by Ralph. Jacques himself prospered as a fisherman, and never required
the assistance Ralph would have been glad to give him.
Neither Ralph nor Mabel Withers was informed of the expression of Mr.
Penfold's hopes in his will that they would some day be married, the
two mothers agreeing cordially that nothing was so likely to defeat
the carrying out of Mr. Penfold's wishes as for the young people to
have any suspicions of them. They were still but boy and girl, and
were now perfectly happy in their unrestrained intercourse, for not a
day passed that the two families did not see something of each other;
but had they had a suspicion of the truth it would have rendered them
shy and awkward with each other, and have thrown them much more widely
apart.
"We both hope that it will come about, Mrs. Conway," Mrs. Withers said
one day; "and I certainly think there is every prospect of it. Let us
leave well alone, and allow it to come about naturally and without
interference.
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