"Father!"
Ronald Wellington studied his daughter's flushed face for a moment, the sparkling eyes, the parted lips, the disarranged hair, the wet, bedraggled gown, and the bruised forehead.
"Where is he? Did you find him?" he asked. "You look as though you had conducted a strenuous search, Anne."
With a laugh, Anne, radiant as a spirit, ran out into the hall and when she returned she had Jack by the hand.
"Father, mother, here is Jack Armitage—Lieutenant Armitage of—of our Navy."
Mr. Wellington slowly arose.
"Say, Armitage," he said, "I know your father. He has been a mighty capable enemy of mine, or, rather, to my interests. What have you to say to that?"
Jack met his eyes with a brave smile.
"I 'm sorry to hear that, sir. But he won't be any longer. I 'll fix that."
"Of course we will," cried Anne.