e sat down and looked uncomfortably at the lawyer.

"I had thought to have seen you here before, Captain."

"I suppose I should have shown up," said Bob--concealing the fact that
the idea had never occurred to him. "But I've been very busy since I've
been back to England."

"And what brings you now?"

"I'm all but demobilized," Bob told him, "and I'm trying to get
employment."

"What--in this office?"

"Heavens, no!" ejaculated Bob, and at once turned a fine red. "That
is--I beg your pardon, sir; but I'm afraid I'm not cut out for an
office. I want to get something to do in the country, where I can
support my sister."

"Your sister? But does not your father support her? She is an inmate of
his house, is she not?"

"Very much so," said Bob bitterly. "She's governess, and lady-help, and
a good many other things. You couldn't call it a home. Besides, we have
always been together. I want to take her away."

"And what does your father say?"

"He says she mustn't go. At least, that's what my stepmother says, so my
father will certainly say it too."

"Your sister is under age, I think?"

"She's just nineteen--I'm over twenty-two. Can my father prevent her
going with me, sir?"

"Mph," said the lawyer, pondering. "Do I gather that the young lady is
unhappy?"

"If she isn't, it's because she has pluck enough for six people, and
because she always hopes to get away."

"And do you consider that you could support her?"

"I don't know," said Bob unhappily. "I would certainly have thought
I could, but there seems mighty little chance for a fellow whose only
qualification is that he's been fighting Huns for nearly five years.
I've answered advertisements and interviewed people until my brain
reels; but there's nothing in it, and I can't leave Tommy there."

"Tommy?" queried the lawyer blankly.

Bob laughed.

"My sister, I mean, sir. Her name's Cecilia, but, of course, we've never
called her that. Even Aunt Margaret called her Tommy."

Mr. M'Clinton made no reply. He thought deeply for a few moments. Then
he looked up, and there was a glint of kindness in his hard grey eyes.

"I think you had better tell me all about it, Captain Rainham. Would it
assist you to smoke?"

"Thanks awfully, sir," said Bob, accepting the proffered cigarette.
He plunged into his story; and if at times it was a trifle incoherent,
principally from honest wrath, yet on the whole Cecilia's case
lost nothing in the telling. The lawyer