he lamps!" he almost shouted. "My reasoning was
right after all. Come to the library, where we will be alone, and tell
me all about it! And while he does it, Ross," said he, turning to me,
"do you, like a good fellow, get the key from the safe deposit, so that
I may have a look at the lamps!"

Then the three of them, the daughter lovingly holding her father's arm,
went into the library, whilst I hurried off to Chancery Lane.

When I returned with the key, I found them still engaged in the
narrative; but Doctor Winchester, who had arrived soon after I left,
was with them. Mr. Trelawny, on hearing from Margaret of his great
attention and kindness, and how he had, under much pressure to the
contrary, steadfastly obeyed his written wishes, had asked him to
remain and listen. "It will interest you, perhaps," he said, "to learn
the end of the story!"

We all had an early dinner together. We sat after it a good while, and
then Mr. Trelawny said:

"Now, I think we had all better separate and go quietly to bed early.
We may have much to talk about tomorrow; and tonight I want to think."

Doctor Winchester went away, taking, with a courteous forethought, Mr.
Corbeck with him, and leaving me behind. When the others had gone Mr.
Trelawny said:

"I think it will be well if you, too, will go home for tonight. I want
to be quite alone with my daughter; there are many things I wish to
speak of to her, and to her alone. Perhaps, even tomorrow, I will be
able to tell you also of them; but in the meantime there will be less
distraction to us both if we are alone in the house." I quite
understood and sympathised with his feelings; but the experiences of
the last few days were strong on me, and with some hesitation I said:

"But may it not be dangerous? If you knew as we do--" To my surprise
Margaret interrupted me:

"There will be no danger, Malcolm. I shall be with Father!" As she
spoke she clung to him in a protective way. I said no more, but stood
up to go at once. Mr. Trelawny said heartily:

"Come as early as you please, Ross. Come to breakfast. After it, you
and I will want to have a word together." He went out of the room
quietly, leaving us together. I clasped and kissed Margaret's hands,
which she held out to me, and then drew her close to me, and our lips
met for the first time.

I did not sleep much that night. Happiness on the one side of my bed
and Anxiety on the other kept sleep away. But if I