"If I could only get a few pupils and set up a small school, I might be able to put aside something towards Robin’s future," she said. "He ought to go eventually to some sort of college, whatever profession he takes up, and where the fees are to come from, I don’t know." As she walked up the garden path, she saw that the lamp had been lit in the parlour, and that Robin was already busily engaged at tea. The blind had not been drawn down, so that she could distinguish everything plainly. "Why, he’s got a visitor, the monkey!" she exclaimed. "I wonder who it is that he has invited to keep him company during my absence. ’When the cat’s away, the mice do play,’ I suppose." A man was sitting with his back to the window, so that it was impossible for Mrs. Power to recognize him from where she stood, but whoever it was, she noticed that Robin was carrying on a most animated conversation with his guest. It appeared also of an amusing character, for presently the stranger threw himself back in his chair, and a merry laugh rang through the room. Madelaine started and the posts of the porch seemed to sway backwards and forwards in front of her, as a film came suddenly before her eyes. She pulled herself together and put up her hand as if to thrust the dizzy feeling from her, then with knees trembling and palpitating heart, she walked into the little passage and threw open the parlour door. The visitor rose with an embarrassed air, and stood grasping the back of a chair as he turned to meet her. "It’s only a tramp I’ve made friends with, mother," said Robin. "He has come to say good-bye, and I knew you wouldn’t mind me asking him to stay to tea as you were out." "Madelaine!--my own Madelaine!" ejaculated the stranger with a dazed look upon his pale face. "Is it possible--or am I dreaming?" "Gerald!--my husband!" was the answering cry, as Madelaine threw herself into his outstretched arms. "Oh, thank God that I have got you again!" In mute astonishment Robin watched the reunited pair, till the first ecstasy of the unexpected meeting was past, and they could turn to him with explanations of the strange scene. "Come and welcome your father, Robin," was Madelaine’s joyful exclamation, as she put out her hand to the boy. "This is indeed a wonderful day for us. Our lost one has been given back to us as from the dead. How, I do not know. It is enough to feel that he is here." She raised her eyes, brimming with love and tenderness, to feast her gaze once more upon her husband’s countenance, clinging closely to him the while, as if she feared some unseen power would spirit him away. She was startled to see the spasm of pain which passed over his features at her words, while a deep groan escaped his lips. "Gerald!" she exclaimed, "what is wrong? You look so ill, and as if something dreadful had happened. What can anything matter so long as we are together again?"