s! It is
Owen Hartley. It must be! Owen, my boy, are you really come back?"

These expressions burst from the old man's lips as he hurried forward.
He grasped Owen's hands, gazing up into his face. Owen was now upwards
of a head taller.

"Are you yourself? Don't mock me, Owen."

"I am indeed myself," answered Owen, smiling as he spoke. "Most
grateful I am for the kind way in which you have received me, after I
had played truant so many long years; but I could not have come back
before, unless you had sent for me, and I have received no letters since
I left home."

For a few minutes they stood talking, when, after Owen had exchanged
greetings with Joseph Crump, he accompanied Mr Fluke into the parlour,
where Kezia was busily employed in preparing supper.

"You need not be afraid of depriving him of his supper by not eating as
much as you want," she said, nodding her head to Owen. "I've got plenty
for both of you." Then turning to Mr Fluke, she added, "You must get
off your boots, here are your slippers, and then Owen will tell you all
about himself, and I'll warrant there will be something worth listening
to."

Kezia was as good as her word, an ample supper being placed on the
table. Mr Fluke ate but sparingly. Owen saw that he was eager to hear
his adventures. He ran over them as rapidly as he could, dwelling only
on the more important points. Occasionally Mr Fluke stopped him to ask
a question, then said, "Go on, go on."

When Owen got to the account of the confession made by Reginald Ashurst
and his death, Mr Fluke paid the greatest attention.

"Ah!" he exclaimed, "there is something in that. Lord Arlingford; yes,
I remember there was some doubt as to who was the rightful heir, and
that the name of the family was originally Hartley. How your
grandfather or father never came to put in a claim, I don't know. It is
just possible that they never heard about the matter. They were poor,
and the other Hartleys had money at command. That makes all the
difference. We shall now see what another generation can do; although
possession is nine parts of the law, yet the chances are that the
present Lord Arlingford has not much at command to dispute your claims,
should he not have a right to the title and estates."

As Kezia had supposed, Mr Fluke continued talking or listening until it
was far later than he was accustomed to retire for the night. She at
length came in.

"I have given you an hour's gr