"Quite right, Dick, my boy!" exclaims a deep voice; and a tanned, bearded man comes into the room with a sailor-like roll.
"Let me congratulate you on your appointment, Mr. Hartland," cries Dick. "No more ploughing the salt seas for you!"
John Hartland has just procured the berth of traffic manager to the harbour board.
"It's almost a pity, though," says Mr. Hartland with a laugh, "that the house is perched up so high. I tell the wife we live in a sort of eagle's nest. Still, it suits Susie remarkably well; I must admit that."
"Isn't Susie here?" asks Dick innocently, looking round as if he had only just discovered her absence.
"She's upstairs," laughs her father, "putting on a few more fal-lals, I expect. The lasses are all alike in that respect."
Dick whispers to Mrs. Hartland, at the same time slipping something into her hand, and the others smile at one another as she glides out of the room. She reappears presently, followed by a young girl, the neck of whose dress is fastened by an exquisite brooch.
"O Dick!" she exclaims, running forward, "thank you very much. It is just lovely!"
Dick, looking a trifle shamefaced, murmurs some reply, while Jim can hardly take his eyes from his sister's face. He has not been at home much of late years, and he can never quite restrain a thrill of surprise on seeing the beautiful girl as she passes before him with all the grace of a young fawn.
Presently, when they are all quietly seated, Dick says, with a joyous laugh,—