spare moment!"

The tone of the unseen speaker had become awkward, apologetic, and the
listener bit her lips--she did not believe in his explanation as to why
he had behaved with such a lack of gratitude and good feeling last
autumn.

"We shall be very glad to see you at any time, of course. When can we
expect you?"

But the welcoming words were uttered very coldly.

"It's Tuesday to-day; I was thinking of motoring down on Friday or
Saturday. I've got a lot of business to do before then. Will that be
all right?"

"Of course it will. Come Friday."

She was thawing a little, and perhaps he felt this, for there came an
eager, yearning note into the full, deep voice which sounded so oddly
near, and which, for the moment, obliterated the long years since she had
heard it last.

"How's my godson? Flick still in the land of the living, eh?"

"Thank heaven, yes! That dog's the one thing in the world Timmy cares
for, I sometimes think."

He felt that she was smiling now.