"You'll have to leave that for a minute. There's someone called and wants to see you. On business, I think," he choked back a laugh. "Bother," said Jill, "I can't come now." "Sorry--but I'm no earthly use. Hurry up, there's a good girl." Jill, with an impatient sigh, pushed the soup to the side of the stove. "It won't hurt to simmer there." She wiped her hands on a cloth and with her rounded arms bare, an apron over her drill skirt, followed Roddy up the stairs, a frown on her pretty face. After the gloom of the basement the light dazed her for a second as she walked into the dining-room and saw a tall man standing there. "Well, Jill?" At Peter's voice she gave a sadden breathless cry. She caught at the back of a chair and swayed... "Good Lord! I've startled you." His arm went out, supporting her. "I'm awfully sorry." He felt her stiffen. For Jill had recovered herself. "You made me jump--How are you, Peter?" She forced a shaky little laugh. "I'm all right--it's nothing ... really." She drew back, her face red--"it's the hot kitchen. I'm rather tired--but awfully glad to see you again." "You do look a bit played out." His blue eyes ran over her, conscious of a subtle change. This was not his schoolgirl friend of the short skirts and swinging plait. Her hair was wound round her head in glossy coils, from beneath which little tendrils curled away, dark against her white forehead. Her throat and arms, bare and dimpled, were softly curved and the low bosom that rose and fell with her quick breath had lost its narrow, boyish look. But the grey eyes were the same, pure and fearless, though shadowed now with faint circles of violet that added to their natural size; and the pretty face, flushed from the fire, had the clear skin of the child he loved, the rather large and humorous mouth. Her long skirt, tightly bound with the narrow apron, showed the curve of her slender hips and beneath he saw her high-arched, supple feet. She looked a thoroughbred--he thought--with a sudden thrill of friendly pride--from the poise of her well-shaped head to the smooth, pointed finger tips. "It's _so_ nice to see you again--I'm awfully glad." He beamed at her. "I, too----" she laughed back--"we thought you had really gone for good. And you never said in your letter you were coming home, not a word!" "I wanted it to be a surprise." "It was!" She caught her brother's arm. "Roddy--you little wretch!"--for she guessed his share in the trick--"just run down and put on the kettle--and then we'll have tea together. D'you mind a picnic in the kitchen?"--she turned to the visitor, "Lizzie's upstairs with the invalid." "I'd love it," McTaggart declared. "I've got such lots of things to tell you. But first of all--how's your Mother?" "Better." Jill smiled bravely. "But it's been _dread_ful! Poor darling--she came home an utter wreck----" Her lips quivered as she spoke.