e I want to know. I guess where you have been this
afternoon. You have taken Cyril to see his father.'

'Yes; and Kester too.'

'I am very glad,' forcing a smile. 'It was right--quite right. He will
be the happier for not shirking his duty.'

Then she looked at Michael a little pleadingly, as though to beg for
some account of the interview.

'I am afraid I cannot tell you much,' he returned, feeling sorry that he
had so little to communicate. 'As far as I could see, Blake behaved
uncommonly well; he shook hands with O'Brien at once. But, of course,
after that I only thought it right to efface myself.'

'But surely Cyril has spoken of his father?'

'No, he has not said a word; but I daresay he will open out more by and
by, I am going up to town with him to-morrow, and we shall have plenty
of opportunity if he feels disposed to talk.'

'Are you going to stay?'

'Well, yes--he is hardly fit to be left just now. I shall put him up at
South Audley Street, and then he can look about him for a bit. I daresay
I shall be back in a week or two.'

'Oh, Michael, I never thought of this. Are you sure it will not trouble
you?'

'Not a bit,' he returned cheerfully. 'I want to see my lawyer, and do
one or two things; so it comes quite handy.'

But this plausible pretext did not in the least deceive her.

'It is no use saying what I think,' she said hurriedly, and he saw the
gleam of a tear on her eyelash. 'No one but yourself would ever do such
things. I shall miss you--I think I shall miss you more than ever--but
it will be such a comfort to feel you are with him.'

'Oh, as to that, he will not need me long. When I see him fairly settled
I shall come home. I want to speak to Unwin about him. You have often
heard me speak of Unwin: he is nearly old enough to be my father; but we
are great chums, and I mean to tell him the whole story about Blake. If
I could only get Unwin to stand his friend, there will be some hope for
him.'

'Yes, I understand; but it is you who will be his benefactor. Don't
frown, Michael, I am not going to thank you; I cannot. Now please tell
me one other thing before I go: will you write to me?'

'If you wish it,' he replied without hesitation. 'Oh yes, I will
certainly write and let you know how we are getting on; but I think it
might be as well for you not to answer my letters.'

A flush came to Audrey's face, but she perfectly understood the delicacy
that induced Michael to make this stipula