The delicate colour in her cheeks deepened.

"One day he began to talk about himself, and he told me about Beechfield, what a beautiful village it was, how devoted he was to you all!" Janet Tosswill glanced at the clock.

"It's already five minutes past eight!" she exclaimed.

"I must go and hurry my young people--their father likes them to be absolutely punctual.

The gong will go in a minute." After his mother had left the room, Timmy crept up close to the sofa, and so suddenly appeared, standing with his hands behind his back, before the visitor.