d case, would have entertained serious doubts on the subject of
Frank's future. Mr. Vanstone was too easy-tempered and sanguine--and too
anxious, as well, not to yield his old antagonist an inch more ground
than he could help--to look at the letter from any such unfavorable
point of view. Was it Frank's fault if he had not got the stuff in him
that engineers were made of? Did no other young men ever begin life
with a false start? Plenty began in that way, and got over it, and
did wonders afterward. With these commentaries on the letter, the
kind-hearted gentleman patted Frank on the shoulder. "Cheer up, my lad!"
said Mr. Vanstone. "We will be even with your father one of these days,
though he _has_ won the wager this time!"

The example thus set by the master of the house was followed at once
by the family--with the solitary exception of Norah, whose incurable
formality and reserve expressed themselves, not too graciously, in her
distant manner toward the visitor. The rest, led by Magdalen (who had
been Frank's favorite playfellow in past times) glided back into their
old easy habits with him without an effort. He was "Frank" with all of
them but Norah, who persisted in addressing him as "Mr. Clare." Even the
account he was now encouraged to give of the reception accorded to him
by his father, on the previous night, failed to disturb Norah's gravity.
She sat with her dark, handsome face steadily averted, her eyes cast
down, and the rich color in her cheeks warmer and deeper than usual. All
the rest, Miss Garth included, found old Mr. Clare's speech of welcome
to his son quite irresistible. The noise and merriment were at their
height when the servant came in, and struck the whole party dumb by
the announcement of visitors in the drawing-room. "Mr. Marrable, Mrs.
Marrable, and Miss Marrable; Evergreen Lodge, Clifton."

Norah rose as readily as if the new arrivals had been a relief to her
mind. Mrs. Vanstone was the next to leave her chair. These two went away
first, to receive the visitors. Magdalen, who preferred the society of
her father and Frank, pleaded hard to be left behind; but Miss Garth,
after granting five minutes' grace, took her into custody and marched
her out of the room. Frank rose to take his leave.

"No, no," said Mr. Vanstone, detaining him. "Don't go. These people
won't stop long. Mr. Marrable's a merchant at Bristol. I've met him once
or twice, when the girls forced me to take them to parties at Cli