"Who is he talking to ?" The key of the gate was in my possession.

"What a grand voice your father has got!" I said, as I took the key out of my pocket.

I opened the gate.
There, confronting us on the threshold, arm in arm, as if they had known each other from childhood, stood Lucilla's father, and--Oscar Dubourg! Reverend Finch opened the proceedings by folding his daughter affectionately in his arms.
"My dear child!" he said, "I received your letter--your most interesting letter--this morning.

The moment I read it I felt that I owed a duty to Mr.Dubourg.As pastor of Dimchurch, it was clearly incumbent on me to comfort a brother in affliction.

I really felt, so to speak, a longing to hold out the right hand of friendship to this sorely-tried man.