'And you like him very much, I suppose?'

'O yes, I like him very well. I have known him all my life. We are
almost like brother and sister; only Julian is one of those
thoughtful reserved persons one does not get on with very fast.'


CHAPTER III.


AT THORNLEIGH.


The midsummer holidays began at last, and Mr. Darrell came in person
to fetch his daughter, much to her delight. She was not to return to
school any more unless she liked, he told her. Her new mamma was
most anxious to receive her, and she could have masters at
Thornleigh to complete her education, if it were not already
finished.

Her eyes were full of tears when she came to tell me this, and carry
me off to the drawing-room to introduce me to her father, an
introduction she insisted upon making in spite of my entreaties,--for
I was rather shy at this period of my life, and dreaded an encounter
with a stranger.

Mr. Darrell received me most graciously. He was a tall fine-looking
man, very like the photograph in Milly's bedroom, and I detected the
hard look about the mouth which I had noticed in both portraits. He