years ago, and it clings, like other
habits. Hope you'll sleep well. If you don't, change your rooms before
the crowd comes. Good-night."

"Did you see the room?" asked Stafford, huskily, when he and Howard had
got into Stafford's.

Howard nodded.

"I feel as if I could pitch all this"--Stafford looked at the
surrounding luxuries--"out of the window! I don't understand him. Great
Heaven! he makes me feel the most selfish, pampered wretch on the face
of the earth. He's--he's--"

"He is a man!" said Howard, with an earnestness which was strange in
him.

"You are right," said Stafford. "There never was such a father. And
yet--yet--I don't understand him. He is such a mixture. How such a man
could talk as he did--no I don't understand it."

"I do," said Howard.

But then Sir Stephen had given him the key to the enigma.

CHAPTER VII

Stafford slept well, and was awake before Measom came to call him. It
was a warm and lovely morning, and Stafford's first thoughts flew to a
bath. He got into flannels, and found his way to the lake, and as he
expected, there was an elaborate and picturesque bathing-shed beside
the Swiss-looking boat-house, in which were an electric launch and
boats of all descriptions. There also was a boatman in attendance, with
huge towels on his arm.

"Did you expect me?" asked Stafford, as the man touched his hat and
opened the bathing-shed.

"Yes, sir; Sir Stephen sent down last night to say that you might come
down."

Stafford nodded. His father forgot nothing! The boatman rowed him out
into the lake and Stafford had a delightful swim. It reminded him of
Geneva, for the lake this morning was almost as clear and as vivid in
colouring: and that is saying a great deal.

The boatman, who watched his young master admiringly--for Stafford was
like a fish in the water--informed him that the launch would be ready
in a moment's notice, or the sailing boat either, for the matter of
that, if he should require them.

"I've another launch, a steamer, and larger than this, coming
to-morrow; and Sir Stephen told me to get some Canadian canoes, in case
you or any of the company that's coming should fancy them, sir."

As Stafford went up to the house in the exquisite "after-bath" frame of
mind, he met his father. The expression of Sir Stephen's face, which a
moment earlier, before he had turned the corner of the winding path,
had been grave and keen, and somewhat hard, softened, and his eyes lit
u