"Oh, Mr. Alston," the footman said, "my lady is expecting you. She told
me to show you straight into the drawing-room, and she and--" The man
paused.

"Her ladyship will be with you in a few moments, sir."

"There is festival in the air here, Perkins, and mystery and secrecy
too, eh?"

"Yes, sir, thank you, sir," the man said. "This way, Mr. Alston."

And now in the drawing-room Hugh was cooling his heels.

Why this mystery? Where was Marjorie? Why didn't his aunt come?

Then someone came, the door opened. Into the room stepped a tall girl--a
girl with the most beautiful face he thought he had ever seen in his
life. She looked at him calmly and casually, and seemed to hesitate; and
then behind her appeared Lady Linden, flushed, and evidently agitated.

"There," she said, "there, my dears--I have brought you together again,
and now everything must be made quite all right! Joan, darling, here is
your husband! Go to him, forgive him if there is aught to forgive. Ask
forgiveness, child, in your turn, and then--then kiss and be friends, as
husband and wife should be."

She beamed on them both, then swiftly retreated, and the door behind
Joan Meredyth quickly closed.