'Dear father! it's a very long time since I saw you!' said she, putting back the hair which hung over his face, and pressing her lips to his cheek. 'I'm very happy at having you here once more. But you are ill--very ill! What ails you?' said she, suddenly, as she observed the inroads which the last few days had made in his whole form. Rust withdrew himself from her embrace, and without answering her question, said in a cold tone: 'Come in the house.' Though his words were simple, there was that in his manner (or it might have been the consciousness of guilt on the part of the girl) which caused her cheek to grow pale, and her step to falter; and she accompanied him to the library, with the silent and downcast look of a criminal. He took a chair, drew it to the fire, and pointing to another, said in the same cold tone: 'Be seated.' The girl obeyed without a word. At that moment a servant opened the door, and told Rust that a man was inquiring for him. Rust got up, and went out. In the entry were two men. One of them, a powerfully-built fellow, of about five-and-thirty, with light hair and a prominent eye, asked, 'Are you Michael Rust?' Rust scanned him from head to foot. He suspected his errand; for he had seen him before, and he replied simply: 'I am.' 'Then, Sir, we've come for you.' At the same time, the man produced a slip of paper, and tapped Rust on the shoulder. 'Here's the warrant, if you'd like to look at it, and the vehicle's in the road there.' He gave a nod in the direction. Rust evinced neither surprise nor trepidation. He merely said, in a musing tone, 'I should have stipulated for a longer time, for the lawyer has lost none.' Then addressing the officer, he added: 'My daughter is in the room. Before going with you, I should like to speak with her in private. You may examine the room, to see that there are no means of escaping from it.' The man took him at his word; went in the room; glanced round without noticing the girl, who regarded him with some surprise; then went to an inner door, locked it, and put the key in his pocket. 'Are you satisfied?' asked Rust. The other again stared round the room: went to the window; looked out to see how high it was from the ground; said that he was, and then inquired: 'How long?' 'Ten minutes,' was the reply. 'Good!' said the man; and with a knowing look at Rust, and a shambling bow to the girl, he went out, and seated himself on a chair in the hall, having taken the precaution to send his companion to keep an eye on the windows, which were within leap of the ground. Rust returned to his seat. 'Come hither, Ellen,' said he. His daughter rose, and came to him; but in dead silence. 'Look at me. Am I much altered?' inquired Rust. The girl raised her eyes to his. They quailed before his stern, searching glance; but she replied in a low voice: 'You're very much altered; you're wearing yourself out.'