Miss Davenal sat in her drawing-room. The October sun was getting low, but still the expected guests had not arrived. Near to Miss Davenal, nursing a dancing baby that would not be coaxed to stillness, was a pretty, gentle woman--Mrs. Davenal. Leo stood at the window, looking out, and Mark Cray sat in a distant chair, restless, and pushing back his hair as usual. Mark did not altogether relish the expected presence of his half-brother but there was no help for it. They had not met since Mark went off to Paris in the spring, largely telling Oswald that his debt to him would be paid with interest ere the year was out.
"Is not that a carriage, Leo?"
"No, Aunt Bettina, it's a baker's cart going by."
Miss Davenal caught enough of the reply to know that it was not what she asked after. "Where's Richard?" she presently said.
"I saw him over there on an engine just now," was Leo's answer, pointing towards the station.
"He'll be brought home on one some day, blown up. Rose, my dear, that baby is tiring you. Let Leo ring for the nurse."
Mrs. Davenal laughed, and was about to say that the baby did not tire her and she would rather keep him, when Dick burst in.
"It's coming down the road; it will be here in a minute. Look, Aunt Bett!"
He dashed across the room to the window as he spoke. Example is contagious, and they all followed him. One of the Thorndyke carriages was drawing up to the door. Excitable Dick quitted the window and flew down again.
They were soon in the room. Sara, with her sweet face at rest now, and Oswald behind her. A few moments given to greeting, and Sara had taken the baby, and Oswald was shaking hands with his brother.