ay.
Surely I had an engagement for Saturday afternoon?" He consulted his
pocketbook and read over one of the entries, with a look of annoyance.
"Grailsea Mill, three o'clock, Saturday. Just the time when Pendril will
be here; and I _must_ be at home to see him. How can I manage it? Monday
will be too late for my business at Grailsea. I'll go to-day, instead;
and take my chance of catching the miller at his dinner-time." He looked
at his watch. "No time for driving; I must do it by railway. If I go
at once, I shall catch the down train at our station, and get on to
Grailsea. Take care of the letter, Norah. I won't keep dinner waiting;
if the return train doesn't suit, I'll borrow a gig and get back in that
way."

As he took up his hat, Magdalen appeared at the door, returning from her
interview with Frank. The hurry of her father's movements attracted her
attention; and she asked him where he was going.

"To Grailsea," replied Mr. Vanstone. "Your business, Miss Magdalen, has
got in the way of mine--and mine must give way to it."

He spoke those parting words in his old hearty manner; and left them,
with the old characteristic flourish of his trusty stick.

"My business!" said Magdalen. "I thought my business was done."

Miss Garth pointed significantly to the letter in Norah's hand. "Your
business, beyond all doubt," she said. "Mr. Pendril is coming tomorrow;
and Mr. Vanstone seems remarkably anxious about it. Law, and its
attendant troubles already! Governesses who look in at summer-house
doors are not the only obstacles to the course of true-love. Parchment
is sometimes an obstacle. I hope you may find Parchment as pliable as I
am--I wish you well through it. Now, Norah!"

Miss Garth's second shaft struck as harmless as the first. Magdalen had
returned to the house, a little vexed; her interview with Frank having
been interrupted by a messenger from Mr. Clare, sent to summon the son
into the father's presence. Although it had been agreed at the private
interview between Mr. Vanstone and Mr. Clare that the questions
discussed that morning should not be communicated to the children
until the year of probation was at an end---and although under these
circumstances Mr. Clare had nothing to tell Frank which Magdalen could
not communicate to him much more agreeably--the philosopher was not the
less resolved on personally informing his son of the parental concession
which rescued him from Chinese exile. The result was a