He resolved to stand out for a long engagement when Mr.Tredgold came to him, and to stipulate also that they should not leave Binchester.

An admirer in London to whom his niece had once or twice alluded--forgetting to mention that he was only ten--began to fade into what the captain considered proper obscurity.
Mr.Edward Tredgold reaped some of the benefits of this conversation when he called a day or two afterwards.

The captain was out, but, encouraged by Mr.Tasker, who represented that his return might be looked for at any moment, he waited for over an hour, and was on the point of departure when Miss Drewitt entered.
"I should think that you must be tired of waiting ?" she said, when he had explained.
"I was just going," said Mr.Tredgold, as he resumed his seat.

"If you had been five minutes later you would have found an empty chair.

I suppose Captain Bowers won't be long now ?" "He might be," said the girl.
"I'll give him a little while longer if I may," said Mr.Tredgold.