"Like it!" the boy echoed; "I can't say how much I admire it. It is indeed beautiful! How sorry you must have been to have been obliged to put it on one side," he remarked, turning to Mr. Willis. "Yes," the artist acknowledged, "but I have no doubt now it was for the best, though when I was first taken ill the thought of my unfinished picture was my one great trouble, for I meant it to do so much." "But you will finish it some day," Gilbert said eagerly. "Is there a lot more to be done to it?" "No, mostly finishing touches; but those I shall not attempt to put until I am quite well, lest I should spoil the whole." The afternoon passed very pleasantly and swiftly, so that Gilbert was astonished when Polly, the rosy-cheeked maid who assisted the housekeeper, came knocking at the studio door to inform her master that tea was ready in the dining-room. "Oh, how long I have stayed!" the boy cried apologetically, as he hastily seized his crutches. "I must have been here hours." "Only two hours," Mr. Bailey said, with his hearty laugh, adding hospitably, "You must remain one longer and have some tea with us. Oh, you must; we shall not like it, I assure you, if you persist in leaving." And he laid his big, kindly hand persuasively on Gilbert's shoulder. Gilbert yielded willingly enough, and followed his host into the dining-room, whilst Mr. Willis drew Angel aside, and questioned her about her brother. "I really don't know where he is, father," she said in uneasy tones, "but I fancy he may have gone away this afternoon because he knew Gilbert Mickle was coming, and he doesn't like him." "If so, it is extremely rude of him," Mr. Willis replied; "he ought to have been at home to help entertain our visitor." "Yes," Angel acknowledged; "I am so sorry, father." "Well, my dear, it is not your fault, so you need not look so serious about it." They had nearly finished tea when Gerald marched into the room, looking perfectly unconcerned. The minute he saw the visitor, however, his countenance changed, for it had not occurred to him that Gilbert would remain so long. "Where have you been all the afternoon?" Mr. Willis inquired sharply. "I've been fishing, father." "Alone?" "Yes," the boy responded, adding, after a moment's hesitation, "that is, part of the time." "Sit down and have your tea now," Mr. Bailey interposed; "I dare say you are hungry." No further questions were asked Gerald for the present, but the boy saw his father was annoyed with him. Later, when Mr. Bailey volunteered to walk part way home with Gilbert, Mr. Willis would not permit Gerald to accompany them. Angel went with them as far as the garden gate, and watched them down the hill; and on returning to the dining-room, she found her father had been taking Gerald to task for his rudeness in absenting himself from home that afternoon, and Gerald was trying to find excuses for his behaviour.