With one hand resting lightly on that shoulder and kneeling at her father's side, Cherry read to him from a book laid open on the table, while Mr. Erskine was slowly finishing his plate of strawberries, dipping them, one by one, in the white sugar. Now and then a word of question, of comment, of explanation, passed between the two, with heads lifted and eyes meeting each other, then the reading went on again.
This was what Magnus saw; and though he made out no words, the mere tones of Cherry's voice seemed to him as sweet as any bird or brook or leaf-stir in the whole morning concert; and I know not how long he might have stood there in the shadows of the hall, if little Snip, the terrier, being officer in charge and scenting mischief, had not rushed in from the garden on a tour of keen inspection coupled with much comment. Cherry rose quickly to her feet, Magnus stepped out upon the porch, and catching hold of her hand, as he went by, dropped down upon one knee by Mr. Erskine, in laughing glee at his astonishment.
"Magnus!" he cried. "My dear boy, is this you? Can it be possible!" The one arm came round the boy and drew him close.
"So this is what made you stumble over your report of last night," Mr. Erskine went on, turning to Cherry; "you were hiding a secret." Cherry blushed scarlet.
"Did I stumble, papa?" she said, carrying off the dishes.
"Very much, for you. Well, my boy, there is no need to ask you how you are. Stand off there, and let me have a good look."
"I didn't mean to come in war paint, sir," said Magnus, as he obeyed; "but they said at home you would want to see it."
"Of course I do. Well, they certainly turn out—showy fellows over there." Mr. Erskine hesitated over his adjective, as if to choose a safe one. Cherry bit her lips, Magnus laughed and coloured too.
"They try for it," he said; "but we hope to be useful also, some day, Mr. Erskine."
"Of all the 'some days' for being useful, I have ever found to-day the very best. Sit down and give an account of yourself. Let the cloth wait, Cherry. I suppose you want to hear it all, too. Unless you heard it last night."