“I have no doubt that you are intensely interested in the search for his name,” said Sir Creighton. “But do you really think that I should be justified in telling you what your father clearly meant to remain a secret? Just at present I feel very strongly that I have no right to do this. If any one would be happier for my telling you the man’s name I dare say that I might, at least, be tempted to do so; but no one would be the happier for it. On the contrary, you yourself would, I know, be sorry that I told you the name of the man, and as for the man--as I am acquainted with him to-day and have some respect for him----” “Some respect?” “Some respect--in fact, in spite of my knowing all that I do, a good deal of respect--as, I repeat, I have no desire to make him unhappy, I shall not tell you what is his name--I shall not tell him that the son of the man whom he allowed to suffer for his crime, is alive and anxious to know all about him.” “You mean that you will not tell me---just yet.” “That is exactly what is in my mind at this moment. I should have added those words of yours ‘just yet,’ to what I said regarding both you--and the man. I may think it due to you to tell you some day; and I may also think it due to--the man to tell him. Meantime--not just yet--I hope you are not unsatisfied, my boy?” Sir Creighton put out his hand with more than cordiality--absolute tenderness, and the younger man took it, and was deeply affected. “I am satisfied--more than satisfied,” he said in a low voice. “I shall try to be worthy of such a father as I had.” “You are worthy, my boy--I know it now,” said Sir Creighton. “You do not shrink from self-sacrifice. I hoped to find that my old friend had such a son as you. I may be able to do something for you--to help you in a way that--that--oh, we need not lay plans for the future; it is only such plans that are never realised. Now I think we can face the drawing-room.” CHAPTER XV Josephine was saying good-bye to Lady Severn and Amber was doing her best to induce her to stay. As the two men paused outside the drawing-room door there was a _frou-frou_ of laughter within the room--the rustle of the drapery of a flying jest at Amber’s insistence. “You will not go, please,” said Pierce when Amber appealed to him to stand between the door and Josephine. “You cannot go just at the moment of my return, especially as Miss Severn has promised to show me the roses.” “The argument is irresistible,” said Josephine with a little shrug following a moment of irresolution. “But that was not Amber’s argument, I assure you.” “I merely said that I expected some of my friends to come to me to report their progress,” said Amber. “That seems to me to be an irresistible reason for a hurried departure,” said Sir Creighton. “Oh, I wouldn’t suggest that they were so interesting as that,” said Josephine, with a laugh, a laugh that made one--some one--think of the laughter of a brook among mossy stones.