By dint of strenuous labours Mr Dare had, in the course of years, worked up a profitable business in foreign imports and exports, but, like most businesses, it had its ups and downs, and it would be a great relief to be able to leave some of the details to one whom he knew he could trust, as he could Noel. He had had--or at all events had had the chance of--a good sound education. His father could only hope that he had taken more advantage of it than he had ever permitted to show. And experience would come with time. III When the taxi, for which Ray had ’phoned, came rushing up, they all met again at the front gate to give him their various God-speeds on his gallant errand. Mrs Dare handed him the note she had hastily penned to Lois, with a warm, “We are very grateful to you, Ray, for your thought of her. Bring her safe home to us.” The Colonel handed him a small buff paper bag which chinked, saying, “If you haven’t enough there, my boy, you will let me know. God bless you both!” Vic said enviously, “Just wish I was going! Wouldn’t it be ripping, Nor, to be stranded out there and have someone come out from England to rescue you?” “Ripping! Let’s try it! Where could we get to?” “Little girls are better at home,” said Noel, with his golf-clubs slung over his shoulder so that not a moment of this last precious holiday should be missed. “Good-luck, old man! If you get into any boggle wire for me and I’ll come and get you out of the mud. Jawohl! Hein! Nicht wahr!” “I shall hope to find you all in the best of health about Tuesday or Wednesday,” said Ray, with a final wave of the hand, and the taxi whirled away round the corner. “See you two later,” cried Noel, as he swung away towards the links. “I’ll feed up yonder and meet you at the courts at three.” The girls sauntered away, arm in arm, up the Oakdene path, to talk it all over. The Colonel wrung Mrs Dare’s hand again, and said, with warm feeling that subdued his voice to some extent, “We will congratulate one another again, ma’am. Nothing could have pleased me better. Lois is one of the sweetest girls I’ve ever met, and Ray will do us all credit.” “He’s a fine boy. I’m sure they will be very happy. I am thankful it has fallen out so. I was a little afraid, at times, last summer----” “You mean that spick-and-span, cut-and-dried, starched and stuck-up German dandy? Pooh, ma’am! I knew better than that myself.” “He was a good-looking lad, you know, and his music was quite exceptional.” “Always strikes me as rather namby-pamby in a man. But--a word in your ear, ma’am!”--in a portentous whisper induced by the discharge of his feelings,--“D’you know, I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if we came on another link in the chain before long.” “Another link?” echoed Mrs Dare, and stared at him in great surprise. “Yes,” with a twinkle of beaming eyes. “What do _you_ suppose made my eldest girl take to that nursing business? You know she’d no need to----” “You mean Con?”