"Not too fast," said Harry, smiling; "it's only a stage. There's plenty to learn--and we'll learn it together." Then, after a pause, "There's another thing, though, that will astonish you a bit--I'm engaged----" "Engaged!" Robin stared. Quickly before his eyes passed visions of terrible Colonial women--some entanglement that his father had contracted abroad and had been afraid to announce before. Well, whatever it might be, he would stand by him! It was they two against the world whatever happened!--and Robin felt already the anticipatory glow of self-sacrificing heroism. Harry smiled. "Yes--Mary Bethel!" "Mary! Hurrah!" He rushed at his father and seized his hand--"You and Mary! Why, it's simply splendid! The very thing--I'd rather it were she than any one!--she told me what she thought of me the other night, I can tell you--fairly went for me. By Jove! I'm glad--we'll have some times, three of us here together. When was it?" "Oh! only this morning! I had asked her before, but it was only settled this morning." Then Robin was suddenly grave. "Oh! but, I say, there's Aunt Clare--and Uncle Garrett!" He had utterly forgotten them. What would they say? The Bethels of all people! "Yes. I've thought about it. I'm very sorry, but I'm afraid Aunt Clare won't want to stay. I don't see what's to be done. I haven't told her yet----" Robin saw at once that he must choose his future; it was to be his aunt or his father. His aunt with all those twenty years of faithful service behind her, his aunt who had done everything for him--or his father whom he had known for three weeks. But he had no hesitation; there was now no question it was his father for ever against the world! "I'm sorry," he said slowly. "Perhaps there will be some arrangement. Poor Aunt Clare! Did you--tell grandfather?" "No. I wanted to, but I had no opportunity. But he knows--I am sure that he knows." Their thoughts passed to the old man. It was almost as if he had been there in the room with them, and they felt, curiously, as though he had at that moment handed over the keys of the House. For an instant they saw him; his eyes like diamonds, his wrinkled cheeks, his crooked fingers--and then his laugh. "Harry, my boy, you'll do." "It's almost as if he was here," said Robin. He turned round and put his hand in his father's. "I know he's pleased," he said.