Not to Archelaus's primitive if cunning mind belonged that scheme
for returning the evening of Ishmael's party; it was Tom who for two
days had held him in reluctant seclusion at Penzance so as to spring the
surprise at the least convenient moment. It was characteristic of Tom to
scheme, even when there was nothing to gain by it but a little malicious
gratification, as in this case.

Not for nothing, however, had Ishmael been trained as he had, and his
voice, so unmistakably that of a gentleman as to strike them with a
sense of something alien, came quietly if a little tremulously for the
first few words.

"Hullo, Archelaus!" he said, shaking hands before the other's slower
wits had decided whether to proffer the salute or no. "Come along in!
You're just in time for my supper-party...." No speech could have robbed
the conspirators of their little triumph more completely--it offered a
welcome as from one who had the best of rights to invite a guest in, and
at the same time accepted the place as the home of both. Archelaus stood
glowering, thought of nothing to say in reply, and found himself
following his young brother into the house.

After that the evening ceased to be Ishmael's and became a background
for Archelaus. He had dug for gold in Australia, and if he had not had
the luck of many others who had struck richer claims, he yet brought
home money to fling round upon his fancies. For years he had wandered
over the far places of the earth, so that his skin was tanned darker
than his bleached hair, and his limited vocabulary had enriched itself
with strange and coloured words. He was indeed a man. Even Ishmael felt
that, as he sat in the dim kitchen where they had all gone to see
Archelaus eat a vast meal and listen to his talk. Annie was entranced;
the rare colour burnt on her cheekbones, her fingers rolled and unrolled
her apron ceaselessly; she had relapsed into kitchen ways in a flash
and, swathed in sacking, waited on her big son herself. Vassie tilted a
superior nose and in the intervals tried to impress Archelaus by the
remarkable progress of his family during his absence; but Phoebe, who
had planned for Ishmael, fluttered all spontaneously for Archelaus. It
seemed to her that he was like a demi-god as he sat there, thrusting the
food into his mouth, golden beard dripping with golden cider, careless
limbs outflung. Vassie only saw the inelegance, for he was her brother,
but to Phoebe his very scorn of dainty