He went up to dress for dinner, and came down as soon as the bell rang.  He found that Jack’s father and sister had arrived.  He went into the dimly lighted room.  Mr. Sandys, a fine-looking robust man, clean-shaven, curly-haired, carefully and clerically dressed, was standing by Mrs. Graves; he came forward and shook hands.  “I am delighted to make your acquaintance, Mr. Kennedy,” he said, “though indeed I seem to know a great deal about you from Jack.  You are quite a hero of his, you know, and I want to thank you for all your kindness to him.  I am looking forward to having a good talk with you about his future.  By the way, here is my daughter, Maud, who is quite as anxious to see you as I am.”  A figure sitting in a corner, talking to Miss Merry, rose up, came forward into the light, and held out her hand with rather a shy smile.

Howard was amazed at what he saw.  Maud had an extraordinary likeness to her brother, but with what a difference!  Howard saw in an instant what it was that had haunted him in the aspect of Jack.  This was what he seemed to have discerned all the time, and what had been baffling him.  He knew that she was nineteen, but she looked younger.  She was not, he thought, exactly beautiful—­but how much more than beautiful; she was very finely and delicately made, and moved with an extraordinary grace; pale and fair, but with a look of perfect health; her features were very small, and softly rather than finely moulded; she had the air of some flower—­a lily he thought—­which was emphasised by her simple white dress.  The under-lip was a little drawn in, which gave the least touch of melancholy to the face; but she had clear blue trustful eyes, the expression of which moved him in a very singular manner, because they seemed to offer a sweet and frank confidence.  Her self-possession gave the least little sense of effort.  He took the small firm and delicate hand in his, and was conscious of something strong and resolute in the grasp of the tiny fingers.  She murmured something about Jack being so sorry to be away; and Howard to recover himself said:  “Yes, he wrote to me to explain—­we are going to do some work together, I believe.”

“Yes, it’s most kind of you,” said Mr. Sandys, putting his arm within his daughter’s with a pleasant air of fatherliness.  “I am afraid industry isn’t Jack’s strong point?  Of course I am anxious about his future—­you must be used to that sort of thing! but we will defer all this until after dinner, when Mrs. Graves will allow us to have a good talk.”

“We will see,” said Mrs. Graves, rising; “Howard is here for a holiday, you know.  Howard, will you lead the way; you don’t know how my ceremonial soul enjoys having a real host to preside!”

Maud took Howard’s arm, and the touch gave him a quite unreasonable thrill of pleasure; but he felt too quite insupportably elderly.  What could he find to talk to this enchanting child about?  He wished he had learned more about her tastes and ideas.  Was this the creature of whom Jack had talked so patronisingly?  He felt almost angry with his absent pupil for not having prepared him for what he would meet.