Richards and the general were at Grantley Hall and as busy as the traditional bonnet-maker. They had a little secret between them, for neither Jack nor Flora had yet been told of the change in the fortunes of the Grant Mackenzies. It would be such a delightful surprise. And so the two old friends worked away, as merrily as school-boys building a rabbit-hutch, and in a few weeks' time the old place was put to rights, and every nick-nack and every curio and souvenir and picture replaced in the drawing-room, just as it had been in the dear, reckless days of long ago. But near the finish of the arrangements M'Hearty was invited down and let into the delightful secret, for he it was who should bring Jack and his sister, with Tom, Gerty, and Mary the maid, down to the old place. * * * * * "Do you know," said M'Hearty about a week after this, as he stood with Jack and his sister on the balcony of the priest's drawing-room at Torquay, "I'm dying to see old Grantley Hall just once again." "And I too would like to see it," sighed Jack, "if--if I thought Flora could stand it." "Oh I think I could." [Illustration: "_The old dial-stone._" Page 212.] "Well, the weather is delightful; why shouldn't we sail round?" "Agreed," said Jack; "we shall." They hired a yacht, not a very fast one. There were no _Thistles_ in those days. But she was most clean and comfortable, and the party had favouring winds all the way round, and in due time arrived safely in Lowestoft harbour. Then nothing less than a coach and postillions would suit M'Hearty. "It shan't be at your expense though, Captain Jack," he said, "nor yours either, Tom. Why, I have made oceans of prize-money, and an old bachelor like me doesn't really know how to spend it." The surprise began when they reached the lodge gate. "Why," cried Jack, "there is some one living here. I expected to find the place in ruins." The surprise increased when they reached the lawn, for here the general and sly old Richards met them laughing. But when the party were ushered into the drawing-room, and saw everything in its place as it had been years ago, and the general and Richards "ready to die" stifling a laugh, why, then the surprise reached a climax. "Pinch me, Tom," cried Jack. "I'm in a dream." What a happy first-coming that was, to be sure! but there were many more to follow. * * * * * The autumn tints were on the trees, evening primroses and dahlias nodded by the pathways, and many a rare old flower besides. One evening Jack, with his sister and Gerty, was walking in the bright moonlight along the broad and grassy path that swept under the lime avenue. Flora had gone on, and Jack had given Gerty his arm.