Page:The Toll of the Bush.pdf/113

ever feelings actuated the girl, the man’s love kept all bitterness out of his side of the discussion, and probably Geoffrey was right in concluding that no taint of chagrin had clung to either party as a result of their mutual inability to convince. It was a great deal, however, to expect that this would continue to be so, and it was in the possibility of a coldness arising from this source, and in the growing influence of Mr. Fletcher, that Geoffrey recognised his most dangerous obstacles.

Geoffrey dipped his pen in the ink and automatically completed the task on which he had been engaged; then he sat down at the table and opened the old account book.

It began a long way back in point of time, and some of the earlier entries were veritable historical curiosities, the value of which was occasionally enhanced by a brief note written in red ink at the foot of the page.

‘To Capt. John Shewn, Master mariner. On the hull of the schooner Martha, £250 at 8%.’

Interest appeared to have been forthcoming for two years. Then came a note in red ink, so faded as to be hardly decipherable:—

‘Martha wrecked on the bar, June 12, 1852. Captain and all hands lost. Poor Jack Shewn!’

Lower down the page was a column of small amounts, debited to E.S., £5. Ditto £3, etc. etc. The account was closed with a red line.

Geoffrey turned the pages idly.

‘To Joe Mallow, without interest, £100 to equip his boys for the West Coast goldfields.’

This appeared to have been repaid, but the Mallow account ran for two or three pages and