CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.
HIDE AND SEEK.
Percy was in considerable difficulty as to the ceremonies to be observed in welcoming his family home.

For he had no notion of leaving the house in possession of his suspicious uncle while he went down to the station.
Nor could he bear the idea of not being at the station to meet them.
So he compromised matters by taking his complaisant relative with him, much to that gentleman's amusement.
It relieved him considerably, when the train arrived, to see that his mother recognised the stranger, though not effusively, as her veritable brother.

He was thus able to devote his whole attention to his other uncle, whom he found considerably more interesting.
Colonel Atherton arrived in high spirits, like a schoolboy home for a holiday.

He struck up an alliance with Percy at once, and insisted on taking him off to the apartments near Regent's Park which were to be his and Raby's home for the next few months.

As he was saying good-bye to the Rimbolts, he caught sight for the first time of Mr Halgrove.
"Why, bless me, is that you, Halgrove ?" he said.