"Giles!" she said. "Ah, Dick! how could you be so deceived? A stableman! How could you, Dick? And how could you let me leave him at my door like that? Your brother Reginald, and--and he has never forgotten, Dick." But Dick was scarcely heeding now. "There is so much to think of," she went on rapidly. "But Reginald will have us wedded to-day. And why should I keep him waiting? We have wasted so many years." A tear fell on her hand, but she wiped it hastily away. "Will you have me for a sister, Dick," she said. Dick did not answer. He was experiencing a real difficulty in sorting and understanding his own feelings. Giles! Giles whom he had lorded over, flouted, struck, at Dent, his brother! That he should be a great lord had seemed sufficiently astounding yesterday. Giles the stableman, Giles the courtier, the unapproachable presence amongst roisterers and revellers, the man to be obeyed, the friend, the companion--his brother! A quite strange conviction of his own unworthiness came over Dick. He turned his eyes solemnly on her Ladyship, and sighed. "Dick!" she cried. "What is it? Are you not glad, proud, to be his brother?" "All that," said Dick shortly. "What of him?" "What of him?" "Ay. Is he glad? Is he proud?" the boy demanded, with a strong likeness to his brother in his manner. She kissed him. "Go and ask him," she said, smiling. "He's in the garden waiting. To be sure, he's glad." "But he never told me," Dick said doubtfully. "Why not, then? Because he was ashamed of me." His cheeks burned. "Think of me by him! Think how I treated him at Dent! And what I was at the inn!" "Dick!" she exclaimed. Then, laughing a little, very softly: "Oh, you amazing creatures!" she said. "Why, think you, did Reginald never let me know he lived? Ah, because he thought I did not care! Why did he not tell you he was your brother? Because he thought you would not love him, forsooth! Why cannot you believe him glad to have you? Lest he deem you unworthy. Your audacities shock terribly one moment, and these sudden attacks of modesty are, let me tell you, confusing. Dick, go and find him. You are indeed just worthy of each other--a pair of stiff-necked, provoking, adorable beings!" Dick moved to the door, hesitating still. Could it be true? Was Giles really his brother, and was he to claim affection by right, and be no longer a waif and a stray? Her Ladyship followed him, and stood at the foot of the stairs, swinging the gold tokens by their silken cords. "You might have said 'Yes', when I was bold enough to offer myself as your sister," she said. "Reginald tells me 'twas His Majesty's wish. You would not question his wish, Dickie. You are going to him day after to-morrow, I may tell you. But what must I do if you will not have me for--" But he flew at her, and the sentence was never completed. Then he ran down the steps, murmuring busily: