The blood rushed to Colonel Tempest's head, and then seemed to ebb away from his heart. A sudden horror took him of some subtle change that was going forward in the room, and, seeing all was lost, he hastily left it. The two boys had fraternized meanwhile. Each, it appeared, was collecting coins, and Archie gave a glowing account of the cabinet his father had given him to put them in. John kept his in an old sock, which he solemnly produced, and the time was happily passed in licking the most important coins, to give them a momentary brightness, and in comparing notes upon them. John was sorry when Colonel Tempest came hurriedly down the gallery and carried Archie off before he had time to say good-bye, or to offer him his best coin, which he had hot in his hand with a view to presentation. Before he had time to gather up his collection, the old doctor came to him, and told him, very gravely and kindly, that his father wished to see him. John nodded, and put down the sock at once. He was a person of few words, and, though he longed to ask a question now, he asked it with his eyes only. John's deep-set eyes were very dark and melancholy. Could it be that his mother's remorse had left its trace in the young unconscious eyes of her child? Their beauty somewhat redeemed the square ugliness of the rest of his face. The doctor patted him on the head, and led him gently to Mr. Tempest's door. "Go in and speak to him," he said. "Do not be afraid. I shall be in the next room all the time." "I am not afraid," said John, drawing himself up, and he went quietly across the great oak-panelled room and stood at the bedside. There was a look of tension in Mr. Tempest's face and hands, as if he were holding on tightly to something which, did he once let go, he would never be able to regain. "John," he said, in an acute whisper. "Yes, father." The child's face was pale and his eyes looked awed, but they met Mr. Tempest's bravely. "Try and listen to what I am going to say, and remember it. You are a very little boy now, but you will hold a great position some day--when you are a man. You will be the head of the family. Tempest is one of the oldest names in England. Remember what I say"--the whisper seemed to break and ravel down under the intense strain put on it to a single quivering strand--"remember--you will understand it when you are older. It is a great trust put into your hands. When you grow into a man, much will be expected of you. Never disgrace your name; it stands high. Keep it up--keep it up." The whisper seemed to die altogether, but an iron will forced it momentarily back to the grey toiling lips. "You are the head of the family; do your duty by it. You will have no one much to help you. I shall not--be there. You must learn to be an upright, honourable gentleman by yourself. Do you understand?" "Yes, father." "And you will--_remember_?" "Yes, father." If the lip quivered, the answer came nevertheless. "That is all; you can go."