"Oh!" said Harry, "to pass the time," repeating much of what he had told Mrs Stroud, omitting, however, Alwyn's experiences, but showing the copies of the certificates and attestations of Lennox's confession, giving proofs by letters and documents of his respectable position in the States, and expressing with the frankness which, while it was like his old daring, had yet a different note in it, how, being a father himself, he had repented of his hardness and neglect towards his home. "But," he concluded, "if people don't believe us, there's no more to be said about it at present." Warren was a shrewd man; he had never thought it at all likely that Harry had stolen the jewels, and he saw plainly that there was no reason to induce him to return to his native country unless the story was true. "I take it," he said, "that the gentlemen before whom these affidavits were made believed in the story." "Why, certainly," said Harry, "which they are prepared to say in writing. Mr Warren," he added, standing up, "there's a deal in the past I have to ask your pardon for. I was a young scamp that cared neither for man nor God, and I was downright ungrateful for all your kindness. But I'm clear from that theft, and if you and my father can say you think so, you'll clear away a trouble from me which not all my good fortune has made me forget." "Well, Harry," said Warren, "I see nothing against your story, and I'm prepared to help you to make it out." After this Bessie came down, and the conversation took an easier turn, the exhibition of the family photograph, with the well-dressed wife and comfortable baby, having its due effect on Mrs Warren. A shakedown was offered to Harry in the kitchen, and at a late hour they all went to bed, if not to sleep, after the day's excitement. The next morning, as Wyn, though he was still rather sick and headachy, and anything but presentable, was preparing to go about his work and to inquire for Mr Edgar, and as Mrs Warren was making Florence tidy, in Bessie's hat, to accompany her on a penitential errand to Ravenshurst, there was a tap at the open door, and there stood Alwyn Cunningham himself, as Mrs Warren said afterwards, for all the world as if he had come to give his orders for a day's shooting. "I heard you were here, Harry," he said, grasping his comrade's hand. "Warren, I hope you'll give me a welcome also." "Indeed I will, sir, and glad to see you. Hope you'll overlook the young fellow's mistake yesterday." Alwyn laughed a little. "They were quite in the right of it," he said. "Hullo, Wyn, you have punished yourself as well as the horse." "Please, sir, if I hadn't been stupid-like with my nose bleeding, I'd never have give up the letter. I'd have eaten it first!" burst out Wyn miserably. "It was all for the best," said Alwyn, "and you're a faithful little fellow." He paused a moment, then went on, aside to Harry: