her, and her outlook was of the dreariest. If it were true, as the
old man evidently believed, that his hour had come, she would again be
friendless and solitary on the face of the earth. Abel Graham saw these
signs of grief, and a curious softness visited his heart, though he
could scarce believe one so fair and sweet could really care for him.

Gladys made the utmost haste to do her errand, and to her great
satisfaction was told when she reached the large and well-appointed
chambers of that influential firm, that Mr. Fordyce senior would attend
to her in a moment. She stood in the outer office waiting, unconscious
that she was the subject of remark and speculation among the clerks at
their desks, still more unconscious that one day her name would be as
familiar and respected among them as that of the governor himself. After
the lapse of a few minutes the office boy ushered her into the private
room of Mr. Fordyce senior. He was a fine, benevolent-looking, elderly
gentleman, with a rosy, happy face, silver hair and whiskers, and a keen
but kindly blue eye. He appeared to be a very grand gentleman indeed in
the eyes of Gladys.

'Well, my dear miss, what can I do for you, eh?' he asked, beaming at
her over the gold rims of his double eyeglass in a very reassuring way.

'Please, my uncle has sent me to ask you to come and see him at once, as
he is very ill.'

'And who is your uncle, my dear? It will be necessary for you to tell me
that,' he said, with the slightest suggestion of a twinkle in his eye.

'My uncle, Mr. Graham, who lives in Colquhoun Street.'

'Abel Graham? Oh yes. Is he ill? And, bless me, are _you_ his niece?'

Never was surprise so genuinely felt or expressed as at that moment by
Mr. Fordyce.

'Yes, I am his niece; and, please, could you come as soon as possible?
He is very ill. I am afraid he thinks he is dying.'

The girl's voice trembled, and a tear fell like a dew-drop from her long
eyelashes. These things still more amazed the soul of Mr. Fordyce. That
anybody should shed a tear for a being so sordid and unsociable as Abel
Graham struck him as one of the extraordinary things he had met with in
his career; and to see this fair young creature, fitted by nature for a
sphere and for companionship so different, sincerely grieving for the
old man's distress, seemed the most extraordinary thing of all. Mr.
Fordyce rose, and, calling the boy, bade him bring a cab to the door,
then he began to get int