There was no time for more. Jack went up the broad stairs, two or three at a time, and coming down more leisurely, walked into the dining-room and found himself face to face with Mr and Mrs Thornton and--Oliver Trent. Jack would have been more discomposed had he not heard of this acquaintanceship from Clive, but as it was, the meeting annoyed him, and he did not trouble himself to conceal the feeling. Oliver was prepared, and wore a passive countenance. Mr Thornton, who liked Jack as well as, and his own will very much better than, he liked anybody, was divided between welcome and displeasure. "Upon my word, Jack, upon my word, you take us by surprise. Come for Christmas, eh? Well, fortunately a visitor more or less does not make much difference to Mrs Thornton, and your room is no doubt ready. But a carriage should have met you if you had acquainted us. How did you come?" "I walked from the station, and my things were put into old Brook's cart." He knew that Mr Thornton hated old Brook's cart, and there was partly a mischievous desire to tease him, and partly a wish to show Oliver Trent that he held very lightly the grandeur and riches of the Court. Mrs Thornton interposed. She was always interposing with kindly attempts to smooth down her husband, and an utter want of tact which made the smoothing produce the contrary effect. "How did you leave Phillis?" she said. "_Why_ did you leave her? would be more to the purpose," snorted Mr Thornton, under his breath. "She was very well," said Jack, quietly helping himself to cucumber. "And as to why I came, it was on a little matter of business, and partly to look after a protege or cousin of yours, Mr Trent, unless I'm mistaken--Clive Masters." Oliver Trent's face could not turn pale, but it changed to an indescribable shade of colour which answered the same purpose, and gave Ibbetson a moment of delight. "Masters?" repeated Mr Thornton. "Isn't that the clerk you were speaking of?" "I presume it is," said Trent, recovering himself with an effort, "although I am at a loss to conceive how my interest for him and Mr Ibbetson's should run in an identical line?" "And I am afraid I cannot enlighten you," said Jack. "Perhaps they don't. At any rate I can only answer for my own."