CHAPTER XXI. ARCHIE MAKES HIS PLANS. "If you are my friend, I set you this task. Aid me to an end, If you are my friend, Your comradeship lend. This secret unmask. If you are my friend I set you this task." "Maxwell, Globetrotters, to Clendon, Vicarage, Deswarth.--Come to me at once. Important." Toby was a lover and therefore unwilling to leave the vicinity of his beloved; but he was also a friend, and being of a kind, staunch nature, speedily made up his mind to obey at once the telegram. His father who sincerely regretted the misfortune which had befallen the unfortunate Kaituna and her lover, warmly approved of his son's going away; so, Toby's mind being at rest concerning the parental opinion, he rode over to the Valpys, in order to see what Tommy thought about the matter. As he expected, she said he was to lose no time in going to Maxwell, and also gave him several affectionate messages for Kaituna. "You don't know how sorry I am for her, Toby," she said, with a sigh. "Fancy losing your father and then all your money." "Still Archie is left," observed Toby, wisely. "Yes; I'm glad of that. She will always have him to protect her, and that kind woman, Mrs. Belswin. Now then, Toby, don't you say there are no good people in this world when Mrs. Belswin has acted as she has done." "I never said there were no good people in the world," retorted her lover in an injured tone. "I only said that good people are few and far between." "Of course," went on Tommy, without noticing this defence, "Kaituna could always have found a home with ma and I. I wish she had come here instead of going to London; but Mrs. Belswin seems very fond of her, and then Mr. Maxwell will marry her soon, so she will be happy some day." "I wonder why Mrs. Belswin is so very fond of Kaituna," speculated Toby, idly. "Paid companions as a rule don't go beyond their wages in the matter of affection, but Mrs. Belswin goes the entire bakery." "Toby, don't be vulgar," replied Miss Valpy, reprovingly; "Mrs. Belswin is a very superior woman." "I hate superior women." "Oh, thank you!" "You're not a superior woman," said Clendon, laughingly. "What am I, then?" "The dearest girl in the world." "I am! I am! You'll find that out when your wife's milliner's bill comes in. Now, don't, Toby! There are more important things than kissing." "Not just now," replied Clendon, and kissed her twice. "Good-bye, dearest I shall expect a letter every day." "Will you really? How long will you be absent?" "I don't know! It depends on what Archie wants to see me about." "Well, I'll write. Good-bye, and take my love to Kaituna." "Certainly; only I hope it won't get damaged during the transit." So they parted, and Tommy returned to discuss Kaituna's future with her mother, while Toby packed his portmanteau, and, after taking leave of his father, caught the afternoon train to town.