my blast.

"Mr Popham," he said, in a low, constrained voice; then observing the
wet and forlorn plight of the unexpected visitor, he added anxiously,
"Come in, sir, I beg; come in. Catherine, see that Mr Popham's room is
got ready at once, and the stove lighted."

"Don't call me `Mr Popham,' Englefield," responded the musical,
pleading voice of the stranger. "Call me John or Johnnie, as in old
days, if you don't wish to overpower me with shame and self-reproach. I
have been an egregious fool, Englefield, and a most ungrateful one, and
really know not in what terms to implore your forgiveness."

"It is granted as soon as asked," replied your uncle in his frank way,
and he drew our guest in towards the blazing hearth, "Johnnie's" arm
lovingly twining itself round his neck as they walked together. What a
revolution was this! I stood by, in silent wonder, watching Laurie's
brightening face, and glancing up curiously at the fair-haired stranger.
As I observed his youthful appearance, more that of nineteen than of
his real age, twenty-two; his delicate features, glowing with
excitement; and his deep, blue eyes, with tears gathering on their long
lashes, I no longer marvelled at the tenderness with which my husband
had always spoken of him; my recent dislike quickly melted away, and
kind feelings sprang up in its place. These feelings speedily took the
practical shape of providing dry clothes, supper and bed for our guest,
who seemed really distressed at giving me any trouble. He positively
declined supper, saying, "he had dined late on the steamer." As for
bed, why it was hardly worth while preparing that, for he must be up and
away by daybreak. "He should go with a lighter heart now Laurie had
forgiven him."

"Go, and whither?" inquired your uncle who out or delicacy had
restrained his eager longing to learn how the affairs of the house
stood.

"I hardly know," answered Mr Popham; "that's the point I want to
discuss with you, Englefield. I think I must go to Scutari, as that
rascal Orlando Jones appears to have crossed the Turkish frontier in
that direction. I must, at any rate, track and secure those diamonds.
I can never face Francis otherwise; you know they were entrusted to our
care so specially."

My husband had listened in speechless astonishment to these disclosures,
and I saw him turn pale. Mr Popham saw it too.

"Is it possible, my dear Laurence," he said, "that you had not heard of
Jones's hav