and, "this _is_ good of
you--very good. How glad I am to see you! How is your dear mamma?"

"Mother is very well. Have you had a good voyage? Oh, this is Mr
Armstrong."

Mr Armstrong all this while had been staring through his eye-glass at
his co-trustee in no very amiable way, and now replied to that
gentleman's greeting with a somewhat stiff "How do you do?" "Where on
earth did I see you before, my gentleman?" said he to himself, and
having put the riddle, he promptly gave it up.

Mr Oliphant displayed very little interest in his fellow-guardian, but
said to Roger--

"The children will be so delighted to see you. We have talked so much
of you. They will be here directly; they are just putting together
their things in the cabin. But now tell me all about yourself, my boy."

Roger did not feel equal to this comprehensive task, and said, "I
suppose you'll like to go straight on to Maxfield, wouldn't you?"

"Oh, yes! It may be a day before we get our luggage clear, so we will
come to your hotel to-night and go on to-morrow. Why, my boy, what a
cough you have! Ah! here comes Rosalind."

The figure which approached the group was that of a young lady about
seventeen years of age, tall and slim, clad in a loose cloak which
floated about her like a cloud, and considerably encumbered with sundry
shawls and bags on one arm, a restive dog in another, and a hat which
refused to remain on her head in the wind.

Mr Armstrong was perhaps no great connoisseur of female charms, but he
thought, as he slowly tried to make up his mind whether he should
venture to assist her, that he had rarely seen a more interesting
picture.

Her face was flushed with the glow of youth and health. An artist might
have found fault with it here and there, but to the tutor it seemed
completely beautiful. The fine poise of her head upon the dainty neck,
the classic cut of mouth and nostril, the large dark liquid eyes, the
snowy forehead, the short clustering wind-tossed hair, the frank
countenance, the refinement in every gesture--all combined to astonish
the good man into admiration. Yet, with all his admiration, he felt a
little afraid of this radiant apparition. Consequently, by the time he
had half decided to advance to her succour, his ward had stepped forward
and forestalled him.

"Let me help you, Cousin Rosalind," said Roger.

She turned on him a look half surprise, half pleasure, and then allowing
him to take cloaks, bag