Nealie had no eyes for details of this sort at such a moment, as she
clattered down the steps, holding Ducky fast by the hand. When she
reached the bend, from whence she had a full view of the room, she saw a
tall, grey-haired man, very sprucely dressed, standing at the end of the
third table.

"Oh, it is Father!" she cried, half-turning her head to let the others
know; and then, taking the last three steps at a bound, and dropping her
hold of Ducky's hand, she rushed with tumultuous haste along the end of
the room, and flinging herself upon the man, who had turned at her
approach, she cried joyfully: "Oh, my dear, dear father, how glad we are
to see you!"

But even as her arms closed around his neck a chill doubt seized her,
and the next moment the astonished gentleman had drawn himself away from
her grasp, saying hurriedly:

"My dear young lady, I am not your father."

CHAPTER VI

A Real Friend

"Oh, oh, I am so sorry----" began Nealie in breathless apology, but got
no further, being at that moment swept aside by Sylvia, who fairly flung
herself into the gentleman's arms, crying shrilly:

"Daddy, my darling Daddy, I should have known you anywhere, although I
was such a tiny kiddy when you went away!"

Again the amazed stranger tried to protest; but although his lips moved,
no sound was audible, for at this instant Don and Billykins reached him
in company, and the impact of their embrace was sufficient to
momentarily deprive him of the power of speech, while Rupert seized his
left hand, sawing it up and down like a pump handle, and Rumple patted
him on the back, leaving Ducky no chance at all saving to dance round
and round, yelling at the top of her voice.

"It is Father, dear Father, and he does not know his little Ducky at
all!"

"Oh, hush, hush! We have made a mistake, and it is not dear Father at
all," cried Nealie. And there was such genuine distress in her tone that
the gentleman, who had been feeling decidedly ruffled at this boisterous
onslaught, was at once sorry for her.

"Are you Miss Plumstead, and did you expect to meet your father here?"
he asked kindly, while Sylvia slipped her arms from his neck and looked
very confused, for it is not pleasant to rush about the world hugging
the wrong people, and her blushes were a sight to see as she stammered
out an incoherent apology for her blunder.

The boys had dropped away from him and stood in a bewildered group,
while Ducky ceased her j