“But stop,” said Julian, “I must go to the Eagle first for my people. They’ll be expecting me.”
“Really. So Mrs Home’s here?” asked Lillyston.
“Yes, and my sister. If you’ve nothing to do, come and be introduced.”
“How immensely jolly. I wish my mother and sister had taken the trouble to come with me, I know.”
They went to the hotel, and Lillyston was able to gratify the curiosity he had long felt to see his friend’s relations.
“Whom do you think I’ve brought back with me, mother? guess,” said Julian, as he entered the room beaming with pleasure. “Here, Hugh, come along. My mother—my sister—Mr Lillyston.”
“What! is this the Mr Lillyston of whom we’ve heard so much?” asked Mrs Home, with a cordial shake of the hand, while Violet looked up with a quick glance of curiosity and pleasure.
“No other,” said Hugh, laughing; “and really I feel as if I were an old friend already.”
“You are so, I assure you,” said Mrs Home, “and I hope we shall often meet now.” Lillyston hoped the same, as he looked at Violet.
It was arranged that they should all four go at once to Julian’s rooms, and help in the grand operation of unpacking. The rooms were very pleasant attics in the great court, looking out on the Fellows’ bowling-green, and the Iscam flowing beyond it. The furniture, most of which Julian was going to take from the previous possessor, was neat and comfortable, and when the book shelves began to glitter with his Harton prizes and gift-books, Julian was delighted beyond measure with the appearance of his new home.