"That was why I feared about his going out," said he. "I thought it would be a pity, after all he passed through, that he should be killed by a Boer bullet. But he has only temporarily lost the use of his arm; he has been mentioned for gallantry in the despatches; and he is coming home to marry the most charming girl in the world--I quote from his own letter," finished Durham, smiling. "And Lord Conniston?" "He is coming also to marry Miss Randolph. Both weddings will take place on the same day, and Conniston has escaped the dangers of the war with a slight touch of fever. But why tell you all this--you know it as well as I do." "What's that?" asked Miss Berengaria, coming up to the pair. "I was only discussing Miss Malleson's future life," said Durham. "Ah," sighed the old lady, sitting down. "What I shall do without her I don't know." "Dear aunt," said Alice, kissing the faded cheek, "I shall not be far away. The Hall is within visiting distance." "That's all very well," said Miss Berengaria. "But Bernard will want you all to himself, and small blame to him. What is the time?" Alice glanced at her watch. "It's nearly three, and the train arrives at half-past," she said. "Oh, I wish we could meet them." "Not at all," rejoined Miss Berengaria, brusquely, "better wait here with Lucy. She will be over soon. I don't want a scene of kissing and weeping on the platform. But, I must say, I am glad both those boys are back." "You will have them as near neighbors, Miss Berengaria," said the lawyer. "Bernard at Gore Hall and Conniston at the castle." "I hope he and Lucy won't live there," said the old lady, rubbing her nose. "A dreadfully damp place. I went over there the other day to tell Mrs. Moon about Jerry." "Have you had good reports of him?" "So, so. The reformatory he was put into seems to be a good one, and the boys are well looked after. But Jerry is a tree which will grow crooked. He seems to have been giving a lot of trouble." "Yet he was lucky to get off as he did," said Durham. "The judge might have sent him to jail instead of into a reformatory." "And he'll land in jail some day," said Alice, shaking her head. "At least, Bernard seems to think so." "I fancy Bernard is about right," replied Durham. "The lad is a born criminal. I wonder how he inherited such a tainted nature." Miss Berengaria sat up briskly. "I can tell you," she said. "Mrs. Moon informed me that her son--Jerry's father--was a desperate scamp, and also that several of her husband's people had come to bad ends." "To rope ends, I suppose, as Jerry will come," said Durham. "However, he is safe for the next three years in his reformatory. When he comes out, we will see what will happen. What about your other _protégé_, Miss Berengaria." "Michael Gilroy?" "Yes. Has he taken that name for good?" "He has. It's the only name he is entitled to. How glad I am that the poor creature was acquitted after that dreadful trial. I am sure there is good in him."