THE FIRST OF THE “SLAINS CASTLE.”
“I am all curiosity to hear your secret, Charlie,” pleaded his wife.
“Well, as I tell you, it is your secret which has given any meaning to mine,” he said. “It is as if I picked up an odd-shaped bit of wood, which seemed a mere chip, but presently you came in with a puzzle, all fitted, save for one vacant place, and lo, my chip exactly fills it!”
He had taken up the bulky pocket-book which lay on the sofa beside him. He searched through its contents, selected one letter, and handed it to Lucy.
“Read it,” he said, “and tell me what you think.”
Lucy instinctively looked first at the envelope. The post-mark was “Peterhead”; the handwriting was strong and manly.
“Why, it is from your old acquaintance Captain Grant!” she said.
Charlie nodded.
“Read what he says,” he repeated.
It was not a long letter. The Captain, who was an old schoolfellow of Charlie’s, had heard of his illness and wrote to inquire how he was.