That evening Garstang came in looking weary and careworn. There was evidently some trouble on the way, and as she rose to meet him she felt that she must not speak that night, for her new guardian had cares enough of his own to deal with. But he began at once as he took her hands, smiling gravely as he looked in her eyes. "Well, my poor little prisoner," he said, half-banteringly, "aren't you utterly worn out, and longing, little bird, to begin beating your breast against the bars of your cage?" "No," she said, gently; "I am getting used to it now." "Brave little bird!" he said, raising both her hands to his lips and kissing them, before letting them fall; "then I shall come back some evening and hear you warbling once again. I have not heard you sing since the last evening I spent in Bedford Square long months ago." He saw her countenance change, and he went on hastily: "By the way, has Sarah Plant bought everything for you that you require?" "Oh, yes," she said; "far more." "That's right. I am so ignorant about such matters. Pray do not hesitate to give her orders. Do you know," he continued, as he sat down and began to warm his hands, gazing the while with wrinkled brow at the fire, "I have been doing something to-day in fear and trembling." "Indeed?" she said, anxiously. "Yes," he said, thoughtfully, as he took up the poker and began to softly tap pieces of unburned coal into glowing holes. "My conscience has been smiting me horribly about you, my child. I come back after fidgeting all day about your being so lonely and dull, with nothing but those serious books about you--by the way, did they send in that parcel from the library?" "Yes. Thank you for being so thoughtful about me, Mr Garstang." "Oh, nonsense! But I think, my child, we could get rid of that formal Mr Garstang. Do you think you could call me guardian, little maid?" "Yes, guardian," she said, smiling at him, as he turned to look at her anxiously. "Hah! Come, that's better," he cried; and he set down the poker and rubbed his hands softly, as he gazed once more thoughtfully at the fire. "That sounds more as if you felt at home, and I shall dare to tell you what I have done. You see, I have been obliged to beg of you not to go out for a bit without me, and I have not liked to propose taking you of an evening to any place of entertainment--not a theatre, of course yet awhile, but a concert, say." "Oh no, Mr Garstang!" she said, hastily, with the tears coming to her eyes. He coughed, and looked at her in a perplexed way. "Oh no, guardian," she said, smiling sadly. "Hah! that's better. Of course not; of course not. Forgive me for even referring to it. But er--you will not feel hurt at what I have done?" She looked at him anxiously. "Yes," he said, speaking as if he had been suddenly damped. "I ought not to have done it yet. It will seem as if I were making it appear that you will have to stop some time."