‘Oh, Phil, you’re a real angel boy!’ cried Maud with enthusiasm. ‘Oh, Aunt Olive, isn’t it splendid to hear him talk? You told me he would not dare to defy Uncle Belassis. You said papa and mamma were timid, and all the Debenhams, and that Phil would not be so bold; but you’re quite wrong, aunty—quite wrong.’ ‘Yes, my dear; I suppose travelling about the world does a great deal to make people brave. And I am very glad dear Philip is not afraid of your uncle, for I should not wonder—I mean, you know all the money matters—I mean, well, what shall I say? You know, I think everything ought to be looked into well; and your uncle, he does not like that kind of thing very much.’ ‘So my respected uncle is a scoundrel, is he?’ quoth Tor coolly. ‘That is the plain English of what you were saying, is it not?’ ‘Oh, my dear boy, you must not use such words!’ cried the little widow nervously. ‘Suppose he were to hear!’ ‘It’s my private opinion he will hear uncommonly soon,’ was the careless reply. ‘What is there to be afraid of? I think I am equal to the task of speaking my mind, if what you say is true.’ ‘But, dear boy, I said nothing—I know nothing. I don’t understand business, and your uncle is a lawyer, you know, and knows everything,’ replied Aunt Olive, with timid haste. ‘It may be all right; how can I tell? I dare say everything is just as it should be. Only, of course, it is always better that things should be looked into by somebody else from time to time.’ Tor smiled a quiet assent, and did not pursue the subject further. ‘Oh, Phil!’ cried Maud, breaking in eagerly with a new subject, ‘you will stay with us for good now that you’ve come home, won’t you? You will live at Ladywell Manor—it is such a lovely old place! and you _will_ let me live there with you, and Aunt Olive too, to keep house for you and take care of you? Oh, do take us away from this horrid house! You will, won’t you, Phil? like a dear, darling boy!’ ‘My first step will be to establish you there as mistress of the house, with Aunt Olive as your companion,’ answered Tor readily, knowing well what would be Phil’s wishes on the subject. ‘You shall be lady of the Manor, Maud, and the whole establishment will be under your sway; and if anybody dares to interfere with you, or even to criticize you—just let me know.’ ‘But you will be there too, Phil,’ said Maud, whose face had first expressed ecstatic delight, and then a momentary dismay. ‘You will live at Ladywell yourself now?’ He laughed lightly, and gave his strong frame a little shake.