thbert. Well, I congratulate you, for she is a
charming girl. I need not say that you can rely upon my keeping it quiet
until you choose to have it published."

"Well, Doctor, as it may be some days before I can see Brander again, I
will go back to town this evening. I did not see anyone I knew as I went
to his office, and I would rather that it should not be known that I am
down here. As you are going back there now you might ask Levison to come
round here to see me. I will then tell him that neither Brander nor
myself would wish it mentioned that I was with him at the time he had
that seizure."

"Then I suppose the fact is, Cuthbert, that while I have been flattering
myself your visit was to me, you really came down to see Brander?"

"I am rather afraid, Doctor, that had some influence in bringing me
down, but you must forgive me this time."

"All right, lad, I am glad to have had a glimpse of you again, whatever
your motive was in coming down."

It was ten days before Cuthbert received a letter from the doctor saying
that Mr. Brander was now strong enough to see him.

"He has asked to see you several times," he said, "but I have told him
that I could not permit him to talk. However, he is a good deal
stronger now and is downstairs, again, and as I am sure some worry or
other is preying on his mind and keeping him back, I told him this
morning that I would send for you."

Cuthbert went down by the next train and was driven over in the doctor's
gig to Fairclose. It was strange to him to enter the familiar house as a
visitor, and he looked round the library into which he was shown upon
giving his name, with a sort of doubt whether the last two years had not
been a dream.

He had not much time for thought for the door opened and Mr. Brander
entered. Cuthbert was shocked at his appearance. He looked a mere wreck
of himself. He walked feebly and uncertainly. His face was pale and the
flesh on the cheeks and chin was loose and flabby. He made his way to an
armchair and sank wearily into it.

"What are you going to do with me, Cuthbert Hartington?" he asked in a
weak voice. "Does all the world know that I am a forger and a swindler?"

"No one knows it, Mr. Brander, nor need anyone know it. If you make
restitution as far as is in your power, the matter may rest entirely
between us. With the evidence in my possession I am in a position to
obtain a judge's order striking out my father's name from the list of
shareho