"They are going to-day?" said Stafford.
"Oh, yes; there will be a general exodus. A great many of the people were only staying on until we could be sure we had pulled this railway scheme through. Falconer and his daughter—I beg your pardon, my dear Stafford, I mean Maude!—talk of going to-day. But I persuaded them to stay until to-morrow. I thought you would like to go to London with them."
He smiled as a father smiles when he is planning a pleasure for his son.
"Yes, I should like it," said Stafford, quietly. "But could I leave you here?"
"Oh, yes," said Sir Stephen. "They'll entertain themselves. Besides, it was an understood thing you should be free to go and come as you pleased. Of course, you would like to go with Maude."
"Of course," echoed Stafford, his eyes on the ground. As he was leaving the room his father took a letter from the table, held it up and dropped it.
"You'll be wanting to buy a little present for your lady-love, Stafford," he said. "I am placing a thousand pounds to your credit at your bank, I don't know whether you'll think that is enough—"
"Quite enough," said Stafford, in a low voice. "Thank you! You are very generous—"
Sir Stephen winced and held up his hand.
"What is mine is yours from this moment, my dear Stafford," he said.