" Now run down to the drawing-room. Quick. It is
best to be there first."

The room was empty save for Mr. Galbraith, as Miss
Evelyn had meant that it should be. He was sitting at
ease in an arm-chair — ^not Mrs. Galbraith's high-backed
one I — ^becomingly dressed in a velvet coat. His back
was to the light, and Wilhelmina could not see the ex-
pression of his face ; but he held out his left hand with-
out a word, and she went up to him. Her heart was
beating as if it would choke her. A moment later he
had drawn her close, and his arm was round her. Then
he leaned his head on the back of his chair to get a better
view of her fresh young face, and the light from the
window accentuated his iron-grey hair, his fine forehead
and well-cut nose. "Glad to come to me?" he asked
simply; and, such was the magnetism of his presence,
that she answered truthfully, " Yes."

Father and daughter formed a charming picture
when the guests assembled in the drawing-room; and
Mr. Galbraith was by no means insusceptible to the
well-disguised surprise with which Konald and Hugh re-
garded the new arrival.
The dinner, though simple, was perfectly cooked and
served. One advantage of Mr. Galbraith's roving life
was that he could usually put his hand on the thing he
wanted, and now he had picked up a youth of unusual
promise, whose health had broken down while he was
working under a well-known chef, but who was abun-
dantly equal to a light situation in the country.
