'but to me it is heavenly in its peace and quiet.
Prissy is sometimes a bit harassing: but, then, most women are; but she
keeps things comfortable and ship-shape, and when she has gone off to
bed there is Tom and his pipe in the chimney-corner, and it is "Come and
have a chat, my lad, until it is time to turn in." Yes, yes, I'll bide
with Tom and be thankful.'

'Then we will come and see you here sometimes,' returned Cyril, rising;
'for myself I cannot answer at present----' He paused, and then
continued hurriedly: 'I shall not see you again for some time. I am
leaving Rutherford.'

'Yes, lad, I know,' and Mat sighed heavily; 'and it is all through me
that you are going. I wanted the Captain to hush it all up; but he would
not hear of it. When I think of all I have brought on you, I wonder you
can bring yourself to speak a kind word to me.'

'It is not all your fault; but I cannot talk of myself. Good-bye,
father. If we do not meet again for some time, it will be because things
are going badly with me; but I shall always be ready to help you, if you
need my assistance.'

'Thank you, my boy,' returned Mat huskily.

And then it was Kester's turn.

'I shall come soon, very soon, and Mollie shall come with me.'

'Mollie!' Mat repeated the name in fond, lingering fashion as he moved
to the window. 'My little girl! I wonder if she is like Olive? Cyril is;
he has all her good looks, but he has something in his face that Olive
never had. I almost felt shamed when he called me father; but the other
one--he is not my little chap, and yet he is--but somehow when he spoke
my whole heart seemed to go out to him.' And then Mat tried to light his
pipe, only his hand trembled too much to do it. 'If I could only have my
life back again!' he said to himself with a groan.

Cyril hardly broke the silence once during the drive back. It was not
until several days had passed that Michael heard how that interview with
his father had affected him. Cyril said very little even then, but
Michael was relieved to find that, on the whole, he had been more
attracted than repelled.

'Kester likes him, and in a way I like him too,' he remarked; 'we both
think he has been hardly used. My mother could have kept him
straight--there is no doubt of that--but she never tried to do so. One
is sorry for that sort of weakness, even if one cannot understand it,'
finished Cyril, with the feeling that there was nothing more to say.

Michael left them a