was not difficult to ensure this, since for many a year they had all
been so separated by their respective circumstances that they were no
longer sisters in the old Redford sense. The business of each was her
own, and not supposed to interest the rest. Only such domestic events
as were of serious moment were formally reported amongst them, and were
never deemed serious enough to use the cable for.

The pair came home very quietly. Sydney was the port of arrival, and
here Deb divined on the part of her husband a desire to be left in
peace--to recruit after laborious travelling in the care of
his devoted and accomplished man--while she went forward to "get the
fuss over". Those sisters were the shadows upon his now sunny path,
although he did not say so; he wanted to get to Redford without having
to kiss them and talk to their offensive men-folk on the way. So Deb
proposed to do what she felt he wished, and paid no heed to the dutiful
objections which he could not make to sound genuine in her ears. She
telegraphed instructions to Bob Goldsworthy to engage rooms for her and
to meet her, signing the message "Aunt Deborah"--her only herald.

Bob was duly at Spencer Street--elegant in curled moustaches and a
frock-coat--become a swell young barrister since she had seen him
last. He was sure of the impression he would create upon his
discriminating aunt, and had no notion that her first flashing glance
at him was accompanied by a flashing thought of how her adopted son
would too surely be ranked by her more discriminating husband with the
"bounders" of his implacable disdain. On the platform--while
explaining that he knew it was not the proper thing to do in a public
place--he embraced the majestic figure in the splendid sable cloak.
Deb said, "Bother the proper thing!" and kissed him readily--charily,
however, because conscious of teeth that were not Pennycuick teeth, and