last night that I saw you."

"No," said Peter. "I believed that none of you had seen me. I didn't want
you to; so I came away."

Lord Evelyn nodded. "Quite so; quite so. I understood that. And I didn't
mention you to the others. Indeed, I didn't mean to take any notice of
you at all; but at the end I changed my mind, and sent for you to come.
I believe I'm right in thinking that your wish is to keep out of the way
of our family."

"Yes," said Peter.

"You're right. You've been very right indeed. There's nothing else you
could have done, all this time." Peter glanced at him quickly, to see
what he knew, and saw.

Lord Evelyn saw the questioning glance.

"Oh, yes, yes, boy. Of course, I knew about you and Lucy. I'm not such
a blind fool as I've sometimes been thought in the past--eh, Peter
Margerison? I always knew you cared for Lucy; and I knew she cared for
you. And I knew when she and you all but went off together. I asked Lucy;
I can read the child's eyes better than books, you see. I read it, and I
asked her, and she admitted it."

"It was you who stopped her," said Peter quietly.

Lord Evelyn tapped his fingers on his chair arm.