t Britain or
Ireland."

"Including the Channel Islands?"

"Including them."

"I see your game," smiled Heriot. "But I give you my word. Poor Jean,
poor Frank--"

"You're not even to write to them," interrupted Andrew.

Mr. Walkingshaw stroked his chin meditatively.

"I agree to that," he said. "Any more conditions?"

The smile that prevailed in his discomfited parent's eye perturbed the
junior partner. He warily scanned all possible loopholes.

"You're not to communicate with Madge Dunbar."

"God forbid!" said Heriot fervently.

"Nor my aunt."

"Bless her, poor soul; no fears of that."

"I think that's all," said Andrew reluctantly.

So long as those eyes continued to look at him like that, he desired to
pile condition on condition. But the overwhelming advantages of being
encumbered with no imagination occasionally--very occasionally--have
compensating drawbacks. He could imagine nothing else to be guarded
against.

"Then I'd better pack and be off."

"You had," said Andrew.

Just as he was leaving the room, Heriot turned and asked--

"You've heard of changelings?"

Andrew stared.

"Do you not mind hearing of goblins that get put into cradles instead of
the real babies? That accounts for you. Thank the Lord, I need never
again claim the discredit of begetting you!"

CHAPTER VIII

A luggage-laden cab clattered over the granite cubes and passed out of
the ring of tall mansions and the shadow of the stately trees within the
garden. The career of Heriot Walkingshaw, W.S., was ended, and shocked
respectability could lower again her up-rolled eyes and see nothing more
outrageous than a prowling cat. May her troubles always end as happily!
Undoubtedly, had the full facts been there and then made public, a
statue of the junior partner (completely clad) would have adorned that
decorous garden.

But his modest reticence was remarkable. He stood in the somber hall
listening intently to make sure that the cab really did ascend the steep
street towards the station, when his ally, after peering over the
banisters, ran downstairs to meet him. He was just heaving a deep sigh
of relief.

"Did some one go away in a cab?" she asked.

He looked at her sharply.

"Quite possibly."

In her eyes gleamed a sudden hint of suspicion.

"Was it Heriot?"

He took his time before answering very deliberately--

"It was."

"Where is he going?"

Again he paused. As every moment took his father farthe