I'll never see his daughter again, I suppose, but that can't be helped.

'Tis better to have seen and lost than never to have seen at all." He turned from the window, walked to the fireplace, tapped his pipe firmly on the grate, and was about to go into the hall and call up the telephone exchange, when the door-bell rang.

He was aware of a muffled conversation between Bates and a visitor.

Then the valet appeared, obviously ill at ease.
"If you please, sir," he announced, "a lady, a Miss Beale, of Oxford, who says she is Mrs.Lester's aunt, wishes to see you." Theydon was immensely surprised, as well he might be.

But there was only one thing to be done.
"Show her in," he said.
Miss Beale entered.