worse than penniless--in debt, and entirely through his own fault. He
had gambled away what little money he had, and it had ended in his going
off to Australia--alone.

Then an astounding thing had happened. Godfrey had had a fortune left him
by an eccentric old man in whose employment he had been as secretary for
a while. His luck still holding, he had gone through most of the war,
including Gallipoli, with only one wound, which had left no ill effects.
A man so fortunate ought not to have neglected his old friends.

Janet Tosswill, the step-mother completely merging into the friend, came
forward, and put her arms round the girl's shoulders. "Look here, Betty.
Wouldn't you rather go away? I don't suppose he'll stay longer than
Monday or Tuesday--"

"I shouldn't think of going away! I expect he's forgotten all about that
old affair. It's a long time ago, Janet--nine years. We were both so
young, that I've forgotten too--in a sense." And then, as she saw that
the other was far more moved than she herself was outwardly, she
repeated: "It really has faded away, almost out of sight. Think of
all that has happened since then!"

The other muttered, "Yes, that's true," and Betty went on, a little
breathlessly, "I'll tell you who'll be pleased--that's Timmy. He's got a
regular hero-worship of Godfrey." She was smiling now. "I hope he asked
after his godson?"

"Indeed he did. After Flick too! By the way he wanted to know if Mrs.
Crofton was settled down in The Trellis House. I wonder if she's an
Australian?"