He reached the hall door just as the carriage drove up, and the two little figures jumped and capered about, while a tall, dark gentleman divested himself of his mackintosh and umbrella, and then came up the steps into the house.
He stooped down to kiss the eager faces. "Well, my little fellows, and how are you both? No bones broken since last week? No new bruises and bumps, eh?"
They were so taken up with their father, that they did not perceive that he was not alone, but that another gentleman had got out of the dog-cart, till Sir Everard said—
"Now go and shake hands with that gentleman. I wonder if you know who he is?"
Humphrey looked up into the young man's face, and said, while his color deepened—
"I think you are my Uncle Charlie, who came to see us once a long time ago before you went to sea, and before——"
"Quite right," said Sir Everard, shortly; "I did not think you would have remembered him. I daresay, Charlie, Humphrey has not altered very much; but this little fellow was quite a baby when you went away," he added, taking Miles up in his arms, and looking at his brother-in-law for admiration.
"What a likeness!" exclaimed Uncle Charlie.
Sir Everard put the child down with a sigh.