Matthew Kelvin reached Stammars about noon. Olive had asked one of the servants to let her know when he arrived. Then she wrote a little note and sent it to him in the library, where he was closeted with Sir Thomas. "Come and have luncheon with me in my room as soon as your business is over." Then she put on another dress, and laid out her bonnet, mantle, and gloves, so that they would be ready at a moment's notice. She had quite made up her mind that she should go back to Pembridge with her cousin. Half an hour later, Mr. Kelvin was ushered into her sitting-room, where a comfortable little luncheon was already laid. "I suppose you would have gone away without coming near me," said Olive, as she held out her hand, "if I had not sent you that note?" "No, indeed," said Kelvin, pleasantly. "Why should you think such hard things of me? Rather a comfortable little place, this of yours," he added, as he looked round; "but I daresay you feel rather lonely and mopy here at times." "Very seldom. You know that I am not one who cares for much society, and so long as I have plenty of books, I content myself tolerably well." "When do you go back to Harley Street?" "That all depends on the state of Sir Thomas's health. And that reminds me that I have not yet asked after my aunt." "Oh, my mother is pretty much as usual, I think. Of course, like all of us, she does not grow younger. I believe she would be better if she didn't fidget herself so unnecessarily about me." "My aunt does not fidget herself without cause, Matthew. You don't look at all well--hardly as well as when I saw you at Easter." "There, there! you women are all alike," he said, a little impatiently. "Never mind my looks, but give me something to eat. I believe my drive through the crisp spring air has given me an appetite, and that's more than I've had for ever so long a time. You don't look over bright yourself, Olive," he added, as he sat down at table. "A little bit worried, perhaps--eh?" "No; I don't know that I have anything particular to worry me." "How do you and the dowager get on together?" "Oh, pretty well. She does not interfere a great deal with me, and I keep out of her way as much as possible." "That's sensible on both sides." He certainly looked older and more careworn, as he sat there, than she had ever seen him look before. It made her heart ache to look at him. If she could but have comforted him! if she could but have laid his head against her bosom, and have kissed back the pleasant light into his eyes, and the sunny smile to his lips, as she remembered them in the days before the shadow of Eleanor Lloyd had ever crossed his path! But that might not be. "Do you see much of Miss Lloyd nowadays?" asked Kelvin, presently, in as indifferent a tone as he could assume. "I generally see her at breakfast and luncheon when she is at home. Not often besides." "She is quite well, I suppose?" "Quite well, so far as I know. Why should she not be?"