“To-night. I have been waiting.”

“Papa—I will fetch him,” she breathed.

His hand gripped hers, his eyes feasted on her face.

“No, I can wait a while.”

She felt that she must go on speaking or—what? Fall into his arms? Throw herself at his feet?

“I hope—I hope you had a pleasant journey?”

“Very! It snowed all the time. I have been ten months on the road.”

Her eyes drooped.

“Have—have you come to stay?” she faltered.

“No,” he said; “I am going on to the South.”