“Both my father and I are fully conscious of our indebtedness to Mr. Lisle,” said John. “And you may take my word that neither of us is disposed to undervalue it. But that is not the question before us just now. The points we are anxious to be satisfied upon are, that your happiness is really bound up with your engagement to Mr. Lisle; that you feel inwardly assured not merely that you love him, but of the depth and sincerity of his affection for you, and finally, whether under all the circumstances of the case, it is not desirable that your engagement should remain in abeyance, say for six months, or even for three, with the view of proving at the end of that time whether you really do care for each other as much as you believe you do now.” “Dear father”—she spoke the words with a certain sweet shyness, which thrilled him as with a sense of exquisite music—“put us to whatever test may seem best to you. I have no fear for either Everard or myself. We will submit ourselves to you in every way! “Is that so?” said John with a smile and a lifting of his eyebrows. “What, then, if I were to say, I will have no more of this engagement; that it shall come to an end from this hour!” “That is a question there is no need for me to answer, because I am quite sure you will never say anything of the kind!” Sir Gilbert chuckled. “You are no match for the young monkey, that’s evident,” he remarked. A second later he pulled the bell-rope that was within reach of his hand, and to the servant who came in, he said: “Order dinner to be put back half-an-hour, and then have word sent at once to Elm Lodge that I expect Mr. Lisle to dine here this evening!” As the man left the room, Sir Gilbert turned to Ethel. “There shall be no more talk of broken engagements, nor of putting you and your lover to the test. The debt which I and your father owe to Everard Lisle can only be paid in full by giving him our greatest treasure.” Ethel stood up, surprise, doubt, joy, wonder were all expressed in the look she bent on the old man. “Oh, grandpapa, do you really mean it?” she gasped. “Most really and truly I mean it!” With a sudden impulse she seated herself on his knees and flung both her arms round his neck. “You have made me the happiest girl in England,” she murmured brokenly. CHAPTER L. THE VEILED STRANGER It was only to be expected that Ethel’s thoughts should often revert to the conversation with Lady Pell, in the course of which the latter had advised her to ask no questions about her unknown mother at her forthcoming interview with her father and grandfather. It was advice which Ethel had accepted and abided by, but if she had hoped that some mention would be made of that which she so longed to know by one or other of those two who had so many wonderful revelations to make to her, then was she doomed to disappointment. Neither then nor later was the existence of any such person as her mother alluded to in her presence.