of the hall,
to your bedroom. That is, if you were going to stay the night. Mr.
Robert Ablett's intentions in this matter were as yet unknown.

As Audrey came across the hall she gave a little start as she saw Mr.
Cayley suddenly, sitting unobtrusively in a seat beneath one of the
front windows, reading. No reason why he shouldn't be there; certainly
a much cooler place than the golf-links on such a day; but somehow there
was a deserted air about the house that afternoon, as if all the guests
were outside, or--perhaps the wisest place of all--up in their bedrooms,
sleeping. Mr. Cayley, the master's cousin, was a surprise; and, having
given a little exclamation as she came suddenly upon him, she blushed,
and said, "Oh, I beg your pardon, sir, I didn't see you at first," and
he looked up from his book and smiled at her. An attractive smile it was
on that big ugly face. "Such a gentleman, Mr. Cayley," she thought to
herself as she went on, and wondered what the master would do without
him. If this brother, for instance, had to be bundled back to Australia,
it was Mr. Cayley who would do most of the bundling.

"So this is Mr. Robert," said Audrey to herself, as she came in sight of
the visitor.

She told her aunt afterwards that she would have known him anywhere for
Mr. Mark's brother, but she would have said that in any event. Actually
she was surprised. Dapper little Mark, with his neat pointed beard and
his carefully curled moustache; with his quick-darting eyes, always
moving from one to the other of any company he was in, to register
one more smile to his credit when he had said a good thing, one more
expectant look when he was only waiting his turn to say it; he was
a very different man from this rough-looking, ill-dressed colonial,
staring at her so loweringly.

"I want to see Mr. Mark Ablett," he growled. It sounded almost like a
threat.

Audrey recovered herself and smiled reassuringly at him. She had a smile
for everybody.

"Yes, sir. He is expecting you, if you will come this way."

"Oh! So you know who I am, eh?"

"Mr. Robert Ablett?"

"Ay, that's right. So he's expecting me, eh? He'll be glad to see me,
eh?"

"If you will come this way, sir," said Audrey primly.

She went to the second door on the left, and opened it.

"Mr. Robert Ab--" she began, and then broke off. The room was empty. She
turned to the man behind her. "If you will sit down, sir, I will find
the master. I know he's in, because