“Miss Kitty stared at Miss Westerfield—­only for a moment, sir—­as if she didn’t quite understand, and then knew her again directly.  The doctor had just called.  He drew up the blind to let the light in, and he looked, and he says:  ’Only be careful’—­” Tender-hearted Susan broke down, and began to cry.  “I can’t help it, sir; we are all so fond of Miss Kitty, and we are so happy.  ‘Only be careful’ (those were the exact words, if you please), ’and I answer for her life.’—­Oh, dear! what have I said to make him run away from me?”

Randal had left her abruptly, and had shut himself into the drawing-room.  Susan’s experience of men had not yet informed her that a true Englishman is ashamed to be seen (especially by his inferiors) with the tears in his eyes.

He had barely succeeded in composing himself, when another servant appeared—­this time a man—­with something to say to him.

“I don’t know whether I have done right, sir,” Malcolm began.  “There’s a stranger downstairs among the tourists who are looking at the rooms and the pictures.  He said he knew you.  And he asked if you were not related to the gentleman who allowed travelers to see his interesting old house.”

“Well?”

“Well, sir, I said Yes.  And then he wanted to know if you happened to be here at the present time.”

Randal cut the man’s story short.  “And you said Yes again, and he gave you his card.  Let me look at it.”

Malcolm produced the card, and instantly received instructions to show the gentleman up.  The name recalled the dinner at the London club—­Captain Bennydeck.

Chapter XIX.

The Captain.

The fair complexion of the Captain’s youthful days had been darkened by exposure to hard weather and extreme climates.  His smooth face of twenty years since was scored by the telltale marks of care; his dark beard was beginning to present variety of color by means of streaks of gray; and his hair was in course of undisguised retreat from his strong broad forehead.  Not rising above the middle height, the Captain’s spare figure was well preserved.  It revealed power and activity, severely tested perhaps at some former time, but capable even yet of endurance under trial.  Although he looked older than his age, he was still, personally speaking, an attractive man.  In repose, his eyes were by habit sad and a little weary in their expression.  They only caught a brighter light when he smiled.  At such times, helped by this change and by his simple, earnest manner, they recommended him to his fellow-creatures before he opened his lips.  Men and women taking shelter with him, for instance, from the rain, found the temptation to talk with Captain Bennydeck irresistible; and, when the weather cleared, they mostly carried away with them the same favorable impression:  “One would like to meet with that gentleman again.”

Randal’s first words of welcome relieved the Captain of certain modest doubts of his reception, which appeared to trouble him when he entered the room.  “I am glad to find you remember me as kindly as I remember you.”  Those were his first words when he and Randal shook hands.