“But why?” inquired Stuart, while Palma looked the same question with great, dilated eyes. “In the first place, I wish to make a quiet observation of them while yet they consider me a mere ordinary, uninteresting stranger, with whom they can be at perfect ease, and show themselves as they really are with perfect freedom.” “But don’t you suppose they could do that with their own father, knowing him to be their father who had come to seek them out, to find them, to make up to them—and to himself as well—for their long separation from him—don’t you suppose they could feel at ease and act with freedom in the presence of such a father?” demanded Stuart. “No, I don’t!” emphatically retorted The O’Melaghlin. “Under the circumstances, I don’t believe they could either feel easy or behave naturally. They would be so surprised, so amazed——” “But if they were carefully prepared for the meeting beforehand,” suggested Stuart. “I doubt if you could prepare them for so strange a meeting. But granting that you could, still they would be so filled with wonder and curiosity, so anxious to do their duty, so eager to make a good impression, that, as I said before, it would be impossible for them to feel comfortably or behave naturally. No, you must present me to your friends, Mr. and Mrs. Randolph Hay, simply as your kinsman, The O’Melaghlin of Arghalee. You may write and ask permission to bring your kinsman to Haymore Hall,” concluded the chieftain. “It would not be necessary to ask permission. Indeed, it would hurt my friend Ran for me to do so. He would have us all treat his house as our own and bring whom we pleased, without ceremony, taking much more than his permission for granted, even taking his delight to welcome any of our friends, for granted,” replied Stuart. “Ah, then, sure he is a whole-souled, great-hearted fellow, this husband of my Judy! This son-in-law of my own! And I shall be proud to make his acquaintance. Troth, he should have been an Irishman!” warmly exclaimed The O’Melaghlin. “And now,” he added, turning suddenly around to Palma, “do you understand, ma’am, why I wish to meet my son and daughter as a stranger, and to observe them for a whole day or an evening before making myself known to them?” “Perfectly, Mr. O’Melaghlin. And I think you are quite right,” warmly responded Palma. “I thank you, ma’am, for your indorsement of my judgment. And now, my dear young lady, will you oblige me in one small matter?” he gravely inquired. “In anything, great or small, that lies within my power, Mr. O’Melaghlin,” smiled Palma. “Then, my dear young lady, will you graciously drop the ‘mister’ before my name?” Palma looked up in questioning surprise.