the harassed
soul of a man as it leapt to sight, and saw the shadow of pain conquer
a fierce will. The revelation struck him dumb, for incongruously and
unreasonably there flashed before his mind a memory of this face with
twenty years wiped out. He went slowly away carrying with him a vivid
impression and new knowledge.

It was a new experience to him. He knew something of men's minds, but
of their emotions and the passions of their souls he was no judge. He
puzzled over the meaning of what he had seen as he faced Christopher
in the train next day, studying him with a disconcerting gaze. Could
Aymer possibly love the boy to the verge of jealousy? It seemed so
incredible and absurd. Yet what other interpretation could he place on
that look he had surprised? Charles Aston's words, which had not been
without effect, paled before this self-revelation. It annoyed him
greatly that the disturbing vision should intrude itself between him
and the decision he was endeavouring to make, for the better
termination of which he was carrying Christopher northward with him.

Christopher, on his part, was chiefly occupied in considering the
distracting fact of his own yielding to the wishes of a man he
disliked as sincerely as he did Mr. Aston's cousin. Peter Masters was
taking him with him in precisely the same manner he had made
Christopher convey him to Marden. It was quite useless to pretend he
was going of his own will; refusal had, in an unaccountable way,
seemed impossible. To save his pride he tried to believe he was
influenced by a desire to get away from Marden until the first
excitement over Patricia's engagement had died away, yet in his heart
he knew that though that and other considerations had joined forces
with the millionaire's mandate, yet in any case he would have had to
bow to the will of the man who admitted no possibility of refusal. He
had been unprepared and unready twice over: in the matter of the
journey from London and in the stranger matter of this present
journey. Christopher determined the third time he would be on guard,
that in all events, reason should have her say in the case.

They were going direct to Stormly, which was midway between Birmingham
and the Stormly mines, from which the fortunes of the family had first
been dug. Stormly Park was Peter's only permanent residence, though
much of his time was spent in hotels and travelling. The house, begun
by his father, had expanded with the fortunes o