"We will try to be," said Sidney valiantly.
Mrs. Urquhart met them in the hall, and welcomed them back in her sweet gracious way. But when the Admiral went into his study, which—manlike—was the first room he entered, he drew in a long breath of surprise and consternation. It was almost entirely transformed. A whole row of some of his choicest books had disappeared, some old oil paintings—family portraits—had been taken away and cheap prints hung in their places on the wall. Two big lounge chairs and an old curiosity cabinet had gone, and only his writing table had remained as he had left it. There was no fire in the room, and it looked cold and dreary. Hearing her father exclaim, Sidney stepped in after him, and her eyes flashed with indignation.
"How dare she interfere with your room!"
"Won't you come to tea?" said Mrs. Urquhart, following them in. "I know you won't mind, Vernon, but I took the opportunity when you were away to make a few alterations in your room. You see, when we have visitors it is so very awkward to have no smoking-room apart from your study, so with a little manipulation I have made a very cosy smoking-room out of the lumber-room at the end of the passage. I wanted to leave you undisturbed in your own room, but as the Major seemed to dislike the idea of buying new furniture for my venture, I have had to collect a few odd bits from different rooms. I don't think I have taken anything that you will really miss."
"My books," said the Admiral.
"I thought I had been most careful in what I chose. I have not taken a single one with your name in it—only your grandfather's and a few of your father's. Of course, those are really the Major's, are they not? They went with the house. I am longing to show you the smoking-room. It looks so cosy! But come and have some tea first. You must be tired with your journey."
"Come along, dad; we will soon get things to rights," said Sidney brightly, linking her arm into her father's and drawing him after her into the cheerful, firelit drawing-room. Then, turning to the parlourmaid, she said quietly: "Light the fire in the Admiral's study at once, Jane. It is too cold for him to be without it."
Jane glanced at Mrs. Urquhart, and then left the room.
"I told her not to light it, Sidney, for we have one in the new smoking-room, and I thought your father would like a chat and smoke with the Major there to-night. Ted is devoted to the new room."
"Uncle Ted can come into the study and smoke," said Sidney a little shortly. "My father must always have his room and his fire."