"Never fear, sir. So far we have succeeded and I have no doubt our
success will continue."

"And what shall I do?" asked Goody.

"Well, if you have any friends here, I suggest you should go to them for
a day or two."

"You don't mean to desert me?" asked the old man, with a perplexity
almost comic.

"Not by any means, sir. But we intend to live at Eastella, and for many
reasons it would be better for you not to go with us. If we left you
alone, I am afraid you would fret and worry, so I thought if you had an
old acquaintance who would cheer you up--"

"Now I understand. I have plenty. There's old Brown, for one--he and I
were schoolfellows. I know he'll be glad to see me."

"That's right. Let us know where she lives. And now get ready and rely
on us to wire to you when it's time to come back and open your arms to
take your daughter back to your heart again, from which you will find
she has never really been estranged."

That evening all three had left the "Orient"; Hal and Reg for Eastella,
and Goody for his old friend's house at Broadmeadows.

CHAPTER XV.

MAY.

As soon as the boys had made satisfactory arrangements about their rooms
they had a long interview with Mrs. Eastwood, and as she was considered
almost one of the Goodchild family, nothing of importance was kept back
from her. It was arranged that Hal should be introduced to Miss
Goodchild at the earliest possible moment. Fortune favoured their plot,
for while they were together the lady herself appeared to enquire for
letters, and with obvious reluctance underwent the ceremony of
introduction to the two visitors.

May Goodchild was a tall, good-looking girl, with fair hair and pleasing
features. Her face shewed her to possess a strong capacity for strong
emotions, an intensity of love or hatred, both equally dangerous when
roused. Hal's sharpened faculties of observation had made him a keen
physiognomist and, in the brief moment of introduction he flattered
himself he had read the chief points of her character.

She was about to leave the room, after looking at the letter-rack, when
Hal who had been gazing at the rack, remarked in a casual manner to Mrs.
Eastwood:

"Wyckliffe must have a large number of correspondents to judge by the
heap of letters waiting for him here."

Miss Goodchild paused. She was on the _qui vive_ instantly.

"You know Mr. Wyckliffe, don't you, Mr. Winter?" said Mrs. Eastwood,
taking the cue.

"Oh yes, rat