when I went in--now what was it I went in for--hot milk, was it,
or toast?--well, they was all talking, and Mr. Mark turns to me,
and says--you know his way--'Stevens,' he says, 'my brother is
coming to see me this afternoon; I'm expecting him about three,'
he says. 'Show him into the office,' he says, just like that.
'Yes, sir,' I says quite quietly, but I was never so surprised in
my life, not knowing he had a brother. 'My brother from
Australia,' he says--there, I'd forgotten that. From Australia."

"Well, he may have been in Australia," said Mrs. Stevens,
judicially; "I can't say for that, not knowing the country; but
what I do say is he's never been here. Not while I've been here,
and that's five years."

"Well, but, auntie, he hasn't been here for fifteen years. I
heard Mr. Mark telling Mr. Cayley. 'Fifteen years,' he says.
Mr. Cayley having arst him when his brother was last in England.
Mr. Cayley knew of him, I heard him telling Mr. Beverley, but
didn't know when he was last in England--see? So that's why he
arst Mr. Mark."

"I'm not saying anything about fifteen years, Audrey. I can only
speak for what I know, and that's five years Whitsuntide. I can
take my oath he's not set foot in the house since five years
Whitsuntide. And if he's been in Australia, as you say, well, I
daresay he's had his reasons."

"What reasons?" said Audrey lightly.

"Never mind what reasons. Being in the place of a mother to you,