"I think I may ask what brings you here?" retorted the old gentleman, while Ella looked on in wonder. "Have you no welcome for me?"
Conroy advanced and put his hands into Mr. Denison's, his face lighting up with smiles. Ella turned to her lover.
"Do you know this gentleman, Edward?"
"Well, he ought to: he is my own son," interposed Mr. Denison before the other could speak. "A graceless, ne'er-do-well young fellow! always giving me surprises."
Ella Winter stood bewildered. She thought a farce was being played for her benefit.
"This is the--the gentleman I told you of, sir," she said to Mr. Denison. "His name is Conroy."
"Indeed, my dear, it is not. His name is Denison."
"Dear father, it is Conroy; you forget," said the young man with a laugh. "Ella," turning to her, "my name is Francis Edward Conroy Denison, as the church register of my baptism will testify."
"Just you tell me the meaning of this, Master Frank. It seems that you do know your young kinswoman, here."
"Yes, father, and it is to her that I am engaged; she has promised to be my wife."