prepared.

Nevertheless, Tom Beresford insisted. Was Captain King staying at a
hotel? No; he had got a bedroom in Cleveland Row. That was the very
thing; they could stop the hansom there on their way to Victoria
Station. The girls would be glad to see him. They had always been
watching his whereabouts abroad, in the Admiralty appointments in the
newspapers.

At last, with some little unexpressed dread, Frank King consented; and
together they made their way to Victoria Station.

'You know,' said Mr. Tom, apologetically, in the Pullman, 'I've been
talking a lot about my sisters; but I tell you honestly I don't see any
girls to beat them anywhere. I don't. The Sentimental is rather
stupid, perhaps; but then she scores by her music. Nan's the one for
my money, though. She isn't the prettiest; but set her down at any
dinner table, and you can lay odds on her against the field. I believe
there are a dozen old gentlemen who have got her name in their
will--not that she cares for worldly things any more--it is all
sanctity now. I wish to goodness somebody would----'

But Mr. Tom had a little discretion. He said no more.

'I suppose they are all very much changed in appearance,' Frank King
said, thoughtfully. 'I shouldn't be surprised if I scarcely recognised
them.'

'Oh, yes, they are. And I will confess that Nan has improved in one
way. She isn't as cheeky as she used to be; she's awfully
good-natured--she'd do anything for you. When I get into trouble, I
know Nan will be my sheet-anchor.'

'Then I hope the cable will hold,' said Frank King.

They reached Brighton. Tom Beresford found his companion strangely
silent and preoccupied. The fact was that Captain Frank was very
unusually agitated. He hoped she might not be alone. Then he strove
to convince himself that she must be quite altered now. She must be
quite different from the young girl who walked up the Splugen Pass with
him. Then she was scarcely over seventeen; now she was over twenty.
He would see some one he might fail to recognise; not the Nan of former
days; not the Nan that had long ago enchained him with her frank odd
ways, and her true eyes.

They drove first to a hotel, and secured a bed; then they went to
Brunswick Terrace. When they went upstairs to the drawing-room, they
found it empty.

'They can't be all out,' said Mr. Tom; 'I'll go and find them.'

He left; and Captain Frank began to try to quiet down this uncalled-for