refuge from trouble in his
own mechanical pursuit; a man only roused at intervals to know himself
again for what he once had been. So revealed to all eyes that could read
him aright, Major Milroy now stood before Allan, on the first morning of
an acquaintance which was destined to be an event in Allan's life.

"I am heartily glad to see you, Mr. Armadale," he said, speaking in the
changeless quiet, subdued tone peculiar to most men whose occupations
are of the solitary and monotonous kind. "You have done me one favor
already by taking me as your tenant, and you now do me another by paying
this friendly visit. If you have not breakfasted already, let me waive
all ceremony on my side, and ask you to take your place at our little
table."

"With the greatest pleasure, Major Milroy, if I am not in the way,"
replied Allan, delighted at his reception. "I was sorry to hear from
Miss Milroy that Mrs. Milroy is an invalid. Perhaps my being here
unexpectedly; perhaps the sight of a strange face--"

"I understand your hesitation, Mr. Armadale," said the major; "but it is
quite unnecessary. Mrs. Milroy's illness keeps her entirely confined to
her own room. Have we got everything we want on the table, my love?" he
went on, changing the subject so abruptly that a closer observer than
Allan might have suspected it was distasteful to him. "Will you come and
make tea?"

Miss Milroy's attention appeared to be already pre-engaged; she made no
reply. While her father and Allan had been exchanging civilities, she
had been putting the writing-table in order, and examining the various
objects scattered on it with the unrestrained curiosity of a spoiled
child. The moment after the major had spoken to her, she discovered a
morsel of paper hidden between the leaves of the blotting-book, snatched
it up, looked at it, and turned round instantly, with an exclamation of
surprise.

"Do my eyes deceive me, papa?" she asked. "Or were you really and truly
writing the advertisement when I came in?"

"I had just finished it," replied her father. "But, my dear, Mr.
Armadale is here--we are waiting for breakfast."

"Mr. Armadale knows all about it," rejoined Miss Milroy. "I told him in
the garden."

"Oh, yes!" said Allan. "Pray, don't make a stranger of me, major! If
it's about the governess, I've got something (in an indirect sort of
way) to do with it too."

Major Milroy smiled. Before he could answer, his daughter, who had been
reading the ad