CHAPTER XLIX.

MATTIE IN A NEW CHARACTER.

The family at Lowder Street were all gathered together when the
travellers made their appearance. There was a general shout of delight
when Archie's face peered in at them from the dusky hall over Mattie's
shoulder. Mrs. Drummond's thin face flushed with the unexpected
pleasure.

"Oh, Archie! my dear boy, I never thought you would surprise us in
this way!" she said, throwing down her work with tremulous hands. She
kissed Mattie affectionately; but that dark glow of tenderness in her
eyes was for Archie. In spite of her ordinary undemonstrativeness, she
seldom spoke to him without that involuntary softening of her voice.
However much she loved her other children, her maternal passion was
reserved for her first-born son.

"How naughty of you to steal a march on us in this manner!" she said,
playfully. "We have only prepared a meat-tea for Mattie, because I
knew she would not mind; but if you had telegraphed I would have had
dinner ready for you, Archie."

"Stuff! nonsense! why need he have telegraphed? I suppose what is good
enough for Mattie and the rest of us is good enough for Archie!"

Mr. Drummond spoke testily as he put down the paper. These hints about
the late dinners always nettled him. His renunciation of them years
ago had been a heavy piece of self-denial, for he was a man rather
fond of creature comforts; he had done it for his children's sake; but
it was more than flesh and blood could bear that this renounced luxury
should be served for his son's benefit. Was he not as good as Archie,
though he had not been to a University and become fellow of his
college?

"Father is quite right," returned Archie, cheerfully. "I would not
telegraph, because I wanted to surprise you; and I knew you were such
a good manager, mother, that you would have plenty of aired sheets
ready for my bed. Of course what is good enough for Mattie is right
for me. As we are both as hungry as hunters, we shall do justice to
anything you have prepared."

"There is only some cold meat and some ham and eggs," observed Mrs.
Drummond, a little plaintively. She did not dare anger her husband
further by proposing even a chop, for she knew how touchy he was about
Archie's fastidiousness; but if she could have had her own way she
would have killed the fatted calf for this dearest son. Nothing was
too good for him in her eyes; and yet for the sake of tranquillity she
dared not even hazard the