"Cheer up, my lad!" said Mr.Vanstone.

"We will be even with your father one of these days, though he _has_ won the wager this time!" The example thus set by the master of the house was followed at once by the family--with the solitary exception of Norah, whose incurable formality and reserve expressed themselves, not too graciously, in her distant manner toward the visitor.

The rest, led by Magdalen (who had been Frank's favorite playfellow in past times) glided back into their old easy habits with him without an effort.

He was "Frank" with all of them but Norah, who persisted in addressing him as "Mr.Clare." Even the account he was now encouraged to give of the reception accorded to him by his father, on the previous night, failed to disturb Norah's gravity.
She sat with her dark, handsome face steadily averted, her eyes cast down, and the rich color in her cheeks warmer and deeper than usual.

All the rest, Miss Garth included, found old Mr.Clare's speech of welcome to his son quite irresistible.