"None whatever," answered Clare. "I was only thinking--it's rather an odd coincidence--do you mind telling me something?" "Of course not! What is it?" "Had your father ever a brother--who died?" "No. He had a lot of sisters--some of them are alive still. Awful old things, my aunts are, too. No, he never had any brother. Why do you ask?" "Nothing--it's a mere coincidence. Did I ever tell you that my mother was married twice? My father was her second husband. The first had your name." "Johnstone, with an E on the end of it?" "Yes--with an E." "Gad! that's funny!" exclaimed Brook. "Some connection, I dare say. Then we are connected too, you and I, not much though, when one thinks of it. Step-cousin by marriage, and ever so many degrees removed, too." "You can't call that a connection," said Clare with a little laugh, but her face was thoughtful. "Still, it is odd that she should have known your father well, and should have married a man of the same name--with the E--isn't it?" "He may have been an own cousin, for all I know," said Brook. "I'll ask. He's sure to remember. He never forgets anything. And it's another coincidence too, that my father should have been married twice, just like your mother, and that I should be the son of the second marriage, too. What odd things happen, when one comes to compare notes!" While they had walked up and down, Lady Johnstone had paid no attention to them, but she had grown restless as soon as she had seen that they stood still at a distance to talk, and her bright blue eyes turned towards them again and again, with sudden motherly anxiety. At last she could bear it no longer. "Brook!" she cried. "Brook, my dear boy!" Brook and Clare walked back towards the little group. "Brook, dear," said Lady Johnstone. "Please come and tell me the names of all the mountains and places we see from here. You know, I always want to know everything as soon as I arrive." Sir Adam rose from his chair. "Should you like to take a turn?" he asked, speaking to Mrs. Bowring and standing before her. She rose in silence and stepped forward, with a quiet, set face, as though she knew that the supreme moment had come. "Take our chairs," said Sir Adam to Clare and Brook. "We are going to walk about a little." Mrs. Bowring turned in the direction whence the young people had come, towards the end of the terrace. Sir Adam walked erect beside her. "Is there a way out at that end?" he asked in a low voice, when they had gone a little distance. "No." "We can't stand there and talk. Where can we go? Isn't there a quiet place somewhere?" "Do you want to talk to me?" asked Mrs. Bowring, looking straight before her. "Yes, please," answered Sir Adam, almost sharply, but still in a low tone. "I've waited a long time," he added. Mrs. Bowring said nothing in answer. They reached the end of the walk, and she turned without pausing.