d?"

"You are, Mr. King," said that lady.

"Good-day to you all, misses," said the farmer.

He looked round at the somewhat frightened little group of sisters in the
background.

"I have come to say something," said the farmer. "It is something about
Miss Pauline. It is something about myself and Nancy, and it has to do
with you, sir"--here he bowed low to Mr. Dale--"and with you, madam"--his
bow was not quite so reverential when he turned to the lady.

"What is it? Please speak," said Miss Tredgold. "We are very anxious
about Pauline. Our nurse has just told us that she is not in her bedroom.
Do you know where she is?"

"Well, madam, about half an hour ago I left Miss Pauline seated in my
warm kitchen, in the company of my good daughter, Nancy, and eating as
good a breakfast as I could provide for her. She did not eat much, madam,
but it is there for her acceptance. The young lady is heartily welcome.
She prefers us to you for the time being. She did not want you to know
anything about it, but that ain't quite my way, so I came to explain."

"Please, please, Aunt Sophy, don't be too angry," here came from Verena's
lips.

"Silence, Verena!" said her father.

Surely there was quite a new note in his voice! He rose; his languor left
him; he came up to Farmer King and held out his hand.

"Why, good old friend," he said, "it seems ages since we met. Do you
remember that day when we were boys together and went in search of
robins' eggs?"

"Don't I?" said the farmer.

He gave an embarrassed laugh, which ended in a sort of roar.

"And haven't I the eggs safe still?" he said. "I have parted with many
things, but not with the eggs the young squire and I took together."

"It is ages since we met," said Mr. Dale. "You are looking very well,
Robert--admirably well. I am pleased to see you. Sit down, won't you?
Pray sit down."

"That man is enough to turn the brain of any one," was Miss Tredgold's
private ejaculation. Aloud she said:

"I presume, Farmer King, that you have not come here without a story to
tell."

"That is just it, madam. And now, if I may speak, I will tell you my
story."

"We are all prepared to listen," said Miss Tredgold.

"Yes, Robert, and with attention--with attention and interest," said Mr.
Dale. "Why, upon my word, this is almost as good as a fresh rendering of
the immortal Plato. Sit down, farmer, sit down."

The farmer did not sit down.

"It's no use mincing matters," he said, "