When he saw who his daughter's
companion was he looked for a moment grave. But he had all the courtly
instincts of a gentleman of the old school, and though outside he might
have acted differently, the man was under his own roof now, and must be
treated as a guest. Besides, he had implicit faith in his daughter's
judgment. So he held out his hand without hesitation.

"Glad to see you, Mr. Maddison. We began to fear that you had deserted
us," he said.

"I have been away longer than I intended," Bernard Maddison answered
quietly.

"Of course you dine here," Mr. Thurwell continued, moving away. "You'll
find Beaumerville in the library or the smoke room. You know your way
about, don't you? My gamekeeper wants to speak to me for a moment. I
shan't be long."

He crossed the hall, and entered his own room. Helen slipped her arm
through her lover's, and led him away in the opposite direction, down a
long passage to the other end of the house.

"Consider yourself highly favored, sir," she said, pausing with her hand
upon one of the furthest doors. "You are the only male being, except my
father, who has ever been admitted here."

She led him into a daintily furnished morning room, full of all those
trifling indications of a woman's constant presence which possesses for
the man who loves her a peculiar and almost reverent interest. There
was her fancy work lying where she had put it down on the little wicker
table, a book with a paper knife in it, one of his own; by its side an
open piano, with a little pile of songs on the stool, and a sleek
dachshund blinking up at them from the hearthrug. The appointments of
the room were simple enough, and yet everything seemed to speak of a
culture, a refinement, and withal a dainty feminine charm which appealed
to him both as an artist and a lover. She drew an easy chair to the
fire, and when he was seated, came and stood over him.

"I expect you to like my room, sir," she said softly. "Do you?"

"It is like you," he answered; "it is perfect."

They were together for half an hour, and then the dressing bell sounded.
She jumped up at once from her little low chair by his side.

"I must go and give orders about your room," she said. "Of course you
will stop with us. I have made up my mind where to put you. Roberts
shall come and take you to your room in a few moments."

"Dressing will be a farce for me," he remarked. "I have no clothes."

"Oh, we'll forgive you," she laughed. "Of