strong family affection!"

"Yes, that's all."

"Well, let us descend and make ourselves presentable for lunch; nothing
like first impressions."

After lunch, when the new-comers had found their places and scattered
about, watching the shores of France recede, Shafto approached Mrs.
Milward and bowed himself before her.

"Why, Douglas!" she exclaimed, "this _is_ a surprise, a delightful
surprise. What on earth are _you_ doing here?"

"Making a voyage to Rangoon."

"Rangoon! So am I. An amazing coincidence. Now come and sit down at
once and tell me all about yourself."

"I think you have heard all there is to know."

"Yes; that you had become so distant and reserved and so like an oyster
in its shell, and there was no getting you to 'Tremenheere.'"

"But I was not my own master--I was in an office."

"My dear boy, where there's a will there's a way."

"There is no way of taking leave--unless you wish to get the key of the
street," he retorted with a laugh.