Stafford's heart warmed at his father's greeting; indeed it would have

been a very callous heart if it had not; for the emotion of genuine

affection shone in Sir Stephen's brilliant eyes, and rang in his

musical voice. Stafford was all the more impressed and touched, because

the emotion was unusual, or rather, the expression of it.

This is a "casual" age, in which a man parts from or meets his

relations and friends with the real or assumed indifference which is

ordained by fashion. It is bad form to display one's affection, even

for the woman one loves, excepting in extreme seclusion and privacy. If

you meet your dearest chum who has just come out of the Transvaal War

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by the skin of his teeth, it is not permitted you to say more than:

"Ah--er--how d'ye do. Got back, then, old man?" and at parting from

one's nearest relative, perhaps for the remainder of his life, one must

hide the grief that racks the heart, with an enquiry as to whether he

has got a comfortable berth and has remembered his umbrella.

But Sir Stephen was evidently not ashamed of his pleasure and delight

at the sight of his son, and he wrung his hand and looked him up and

down with an affectionate and proud scrutiny.

"You're looking fit, Stafford, very fit! By George, I--I believe you've

grown! And you've got--uglier than ever!"

Then, still holding Stafford's hand, he turned with a smile to Howard.

"You must forgive me, Mr. Howard! I've not seen this boy of mine for a

devil of a time, and I've been looking forward to this meeting very

keenly. The fond parent, you know, eh? But now let me say again how

pleased I am to see you. Stafford has often mentioned you, his closest

chum, and I was almost as anxious to see you as I was to see him."

"You are very kind, Sir Stephen," said Howard--his slow drawl unusually

quickened--for he, too, was touched, though he would have died rather

than have admitted it, by the warmth of Sir Stephen's reception of his

son. "I was afraid that I should be rather _de trop_, if not absolutely

intrusive--"

"Not at all--not at all!" Sir Stephen broke in. "My boy's friends are

mine, especially his own particular pal. You are David and Jonathan,

you two, I know; and Heaven forbid that I should part you! If you'll

consider yourself one of the family, free to come and go just as you

choose, I shall feel grateful to you; yes, that's the word--grateful!"




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