’Yes, he was excited by your return. It has given him the greatest pleasure to see you here again. You do not know how he clings to you. Cousin John, I cannot express myself as I ought, but I feel very deeply thankful to you for having relieved and brightened the closing days of my father’s life. We were threatened with disaster, and it seemed at one time as if he would sink, and utter ruin would cover and blot us both out. You have saved us, and now the dear old man’s evening is like one which succeeds a day of cloud, when suddenly all the vapours roll away, and a blaze of golden sun glorifies the landscape. I believe that my father is as happy as he possibly can be now that he has you here.’ Herring made some commonplace remark in reply. ’Yes, we owe a great deal to you—more than we can ever repay,’ said Cicely. ’You are going to make my fortune at Upaver,’ said he, half jestingly. ’Oh, John! that is nothing to you. You do not care about that.’ She paused for a couple of minutes, with her eyes on the fire, rocking her foot, her hands clasped over her knee. Presently she turned towards him, with sympathy in her honest eyes and in her trembling mouth. ’Do not be offended if I tell you what I have observed. There is a great change in you. I am sure you have gone through a time of great trouble. We were selfish, and vexed, and impatient, because you did not come to us. We thought you were amusing yourself elsewhere, and had forgotten us, and how much we depended on you. We had no suspicion that you were unhappy. I can see that you have had your cup of bitterness. Neither my father nor I have asked you any questions about yourself at any time, and we really know nothing about yourself and your belongings. I do not want to know anything now that you do not wish to tell me. Indeed, indeed, I would do or say my best to comfort you, if I thought that I were capable of making you happier by my interference. There was something you said just now to my father—it was only one sentence, but I saw that it contained in it the kernel of much trouble. My father bade you look on this house as your home. Then you answered that this was the only home you had. Did you really mean what you said?’ ’Yes, Cicely. I have no home anywhere, except this that you offer me.’ ’You have lost Welltown?’ He hesitated. Then he said in a low tone, ’I have lost it in one sense. It has ceased to be a home to me; the acres remain—that is all.’ ’Oh, John, I am so sorry for you. I know you loved the place. I know what an ache it would give me to lose West Wyke.’ She did not in the least understand what his loss really was. He did not enlighten her—indeed, it was not possible for him to do so. Presently she returned to the charge. ’Have you any brothers or sisters?’ ’None.’ ’And your father and mother are dead?’ ’Yes. My mother died when I was born, and I was reared by a nurse. I know her only by her picture.’