e
and laid his hand on Sally's shoulder.

"I'm awfully sorry, Sally, but I shall have to go back to London by the
first train to-morrow."

The long-drawn "O-o-o-h!" was powerless to express half the
disappointment his sister felt.

"It's business, I suppose: everything nasty is always business," she
said at last.

"Well, no, it's not business; and it certainly is not pleasure. You
remember I had an old godfather, Major Lessing? I'm sure he amply
fulfilled his godfatherly duty by the silver milk-jug he gave me at my
baptism--which I've never set eyes on for many a long year, by the
way--and the tips he shoved into the palm of my hand whenever I paid
him a visit on my way from school. I don't think I've seen him since;
and why, now that he's dying, he has a particular desire for a call, I
can't tell you. It's inconvenient, to say the least of it."

"_Must_ you go?" asked Sally, despairingly.

"I'm afraid so. It's the last thing one can do for him, poor old chap!"

"He might have chosen some other time to be ill," said Sally, who, not
knowing the major, was inclined to be heartless.

"Well, yes. But we won't lose our holiday; we'll come again later,
Sally."

"We shan't! I'm perfectly certain we shan't!" cried Sally, turning
away her head so that Paul should not see that there were tears in her
eyes. "It was too delightful a plan to carry out."

The next day found Paul and his sister back in London. Sally was to go
to an aunt for a few days, until Paul could settle his plans; and when
he had seen her off from the station, he turned his own steps in the
direction of the quiet square where his godfather had spent his
solitary life since the days of his retirement from active service.
His eyes turned instinctively to the windows, to see if the blinds were
drawn down; but the house wore its usual aspect of dignified reserve,
with its slightly opened casements. The imperturbable butler, who
answered Paul's ring at the bell, seemed at first inclined to question
his right to enter.

"My master is very sadly, sir; he's not fit to see any one."

"But he sent for me," said Paul, quietly. "Will you let him know, as
soon as possible, that Paul Lessing has come in answer to his letter?"

At the mention of the familiar name Smith's manner altered perceptibly;
he threw open the library door and ushered Paul in. It was scarcely a
minute before he returned.

"My master is awake and will see you at once, sir."