His eyes closed, his greeting had an urgency in it as though he had suddenly made some discovery that gratified and amused him.

"Very glad to meet you--very glad, indeed, sir.

Any friend of my niece's.

I know your father, sir; know him and admire him." They all turned down the street together.

Uncle Mathew talked, and then, quite suddenly, stopping under a lamp-post as though within the circle of light his charm were stronger, he said: "I suppose, Mr.Warlock, you wouldn't do me the great, the extreme, honour of dining with myself and my niece at my humble little inn to-night?
A little sudden--I hope you'll forgive the discourtesy--but knowing your father--" Martin looked straight into Maggie's eyes.
"Oh, please do!" she said, her heart beating, as it seemed, against her eyes so that she dropped them.
"Well--" he hesitated.