Geraldine came close to him and offered to kiss him, and he kissed her tenderly but very quietly, and looked at her as if learning her face. "I am very glad I have seen my sister," he said. "But now I must go to my father. I must not talk to you now." "I told Miss Hardman that I _would_ come and speak to you," said Geraldine. "I shall write to you if you go away again. I won't be prevented." Alwyn said nothing, and she looked at length a little awed by his silence and gravity. He moved away towards the door, then came back and kissed her again, this time in a warm hasty fashion that brought the tears to her eyes, then went across the hall and knocked at the door of his father's library. CHAPTER SIXTEEN. HARRY AGAIN. Harry Whittaker, when suddenly claimed by Florrie as her long-lost brother, felt an immediate sense of recognition of the fair, fat, bouncing-ball of a seven years child, whom he remembered in the equally bouncing and fully proportioned damsel of fifteen. "If you're my little sister Florrie," he said, taking hold of her hands, "how do you come to be out here by yourself at this time in the evening?" "'Twas I went and chattered to the keepers and set 'em upon you. And when little Miss Lily found this here letter, I knew as how it was you and Miss Geraldine's brother, and I run away to tell Wyn to stop 'em." "Run away from the Warrens?" "No--from Ravenshurst; I was to help the nurse there." "Run away from your situation!" "Well," said Florrie with more spirit, "it was a deal better to run away than have you put in prison. I ain't so set on situations, either." "Well, Florence, you're a plucky girl I see, and I'm greatly obliged to you; but now I must just take you back to the keeper's lodge, that they may be able to say to the lady that your own brother brought you home again." He gave a little squeeze to the hand he held, which brought a curious thrill to Florence's heart. "But--but won't they take you up?" she said. "No; I shan't play hide-and-seek any longer. Anyway, if you came out to take care of me I'm bound to take care of you. So come along." "I ain't afraid to go back to Ravenshurst and face it out," said Florrie. "No; you shall go back with a good account to give of yourself to-morrow, and now you do as I tell you." Harry was so uneasy as to what had become of Mr Alwyn that he was not sorry for any chance of finding out. Florence walked along by his side more subdued than she had ever been in her life. She answered all the various questions which Harry asked her about home and their father quite meekly and as they neared the keeper's lodge, to which he knew the way much better than she did, he heard a little sniffle. "Don't be afraid, I'll stand by you," said Harry good-naturedly, and Florence for once did not reply that she never was afraid in her life.