The sternness, the trouble, the anxiety all melted from Mr.
Taynton's face.
"Ah, my dear fellow, my dear fellow," he said with outstretched hands. "Thank you for telling me. I am delighted, overjoyed, and indeed, as you say, that is far more important than anything else. My dear Morris, and is not your mother charmed?"
Morris shook his head.
"I have not told her yet, and I shall not till this is cleared up. It is her birthday the day after to-morrow; perhaps I shall be able to tell her then."
He rose.
"I must go," he said. "And I will do all I can to keep my mind off accusing him, until I know. But when I think of it, I see red."
Mr. Taynton patted his shoulder affectionately.
"I should have thought that you had got something to think about, which would make it easy for you to prevent your thoughts straying elsewhere," he said.
"I shall need all the distractions I can get," said Morris rather grimly.
* * * * *