Was I right?

by Mrs. O. F. Walton

"Yes, I will give it to you at once," said Lord Moreton, as he took a leaf from his pocket-book, wrote the address, and handed it to Sir William. "Stanley is very busy now, of course, settling his affairs, but in a month's time I have persuaded him to go with me for a run in the Highlands; I am sure it will do him good."

"In the Highlands!" said Sir William. "Then you will, of course, come to us on the way, both of you. And remember, we shall not be content with a three day's visit; you must spare us a week or ten days at least."

"Oh, thank you," said Lord Moreton; "that will be very nice!"

"I will write to Mr. Stanley about it to-morrow. Just name your own day when your plans are formed; we are expecting no visitors at present."

So it was all settled, and Lord Moreton said good-bye to us, for he was to leave town by the early train the next day.

"Well, papa," said Evelyn, as we drove home, "Mr. Stanley was not an escaped convict after all."

"I never said he was, my dear; I always thought him a remarkably nice fellow; only, of course, his sudden disappearance was a little puzzling and somewhat mysterious. If we had only got his letter it would have been all right!"

Then Sir William changed the subject, by complimenting Miss Irvine on the success of her entertainment, and speaking very highly of Lord Moreton's forcible address.

We went back to Alliston the following week, and, to my great joy, Sir William proposed that I should go at once to the old Manor House at Branston to see Maggie. The aunts were delighted to have me, so I went there the day after I had received their letter. I found everything in the house and around it just the same as when I had left it. The same neatness and order and punctuality and regularity reigned everywhere, and the same kindly feeling pervaded the whole place.

My dear little Maggie was on the platform to welcome me, and John and the comfortable horses were waiting for me at the entrance to the station. The sisters received me with open arms, and with tears in their eyes, and Miss Jane returned thanks at family prayers that night, "for the marvellous escapes, and wonderful preservation in the midst of many and great dangers, which had been vouchsafed to one of their number, during her residence in the land of the infidel and the heretic."