missed it," said James, laughing. "I should have hated
it."

"Oh, I don't know that you have missed it yet. We must see."

Then Mary rose to go.

"Well, at all events, we're all coming to dinner to-morrow at one."

They went to the door to let her out, and the elder couple smiled again
with pleasure when James and Mary exchanged a brotherly and sisterly
kiss.

* * *

At last James found himself alone in his room; he gave a sigh of
relief--a sigh which was almost a groan of pain. He took out his pipe
unconsciously and filled it; but then, remembering where he was, put it
down. He knew his father's sensitiveness of smell. If he began to smoke
there would quickly be a knock at the door, and the inquiry: "There's
such a smell of burning in the house; there's nothing on fire in your
room, is there, Jamie?"

He began to walk up and down, and then in exhaustion sank on a chair.
He opened the window and looked into the night. He could see nothing.
The sky was dark with unmoving clouds, but the fresh air blew gratefully
against his face, laden with the scent of the vernal country; a light
rain was falling noiselessly, and the earth seemed languid and weary,
accepting the moisture with little shuddering gasps of relief.

After an event which has been long expected, there is always something
in the nature of reaction. James had looked forward to this meeting,
partly with terror, partly with eagerness; and now that it was over, his
brain, confused and weary, would not help him to order his thoughts. He
clenched his hands, trying to force himself to think clearly; he knew he
must decide upon some course at once, and a terrible indecision
paralysed his ideas. He loved his people so tenderly, he was so anxious
to make them happy, and yet--and yet! If he loved one better than the
other it was perhaps his father, because of the pitiful weakness,
because of the fragility which seemed to call for a protective
gentleness. The old man had altered little in the five years. James
could not remember him other than thin and bent and frail, with long
wisps of silvery hair brushed over the crown to conceal his baldness,
with the cheeks hollow and wrinkled, and a white moustache
ineffectually concealing the weak, good-natured mouth. Ever since James
could recollect his father had appeared old and worn as now; and there
had always been that gentle look in the blue eyes, that manner which was
almost painful in its diffidence. Colonel Parso