“Yes, he is well.  Come in, Mr. Ostrander, and you, too, Mr. Black.  Instructions have been given me by the judge, which I must deliver at once.  He expects you, Oliver,” she went on, as the two men stepped in.  “But not knowing when, he bade me say to you immediately upon your entrance (and I am happy to be able to do this in Mr. Black’s presence), that much as he would like to be on hand to greet you, he cannot see you to-night.  You may wish to go to him—­but you must restrain this wish.  Nor are you to talk, though he does not forbid you to listen.  If you do not know what has happened here, Mr. Black will tell you, but for to-night at least, and up to a certain hour to-morrow, you are to keep your own counsel.  When certain persons whose names he has given me can be gotten together in this house, he will join you, giving you your first meeting in the presence of others.  Afterwards he will see you alone.  If these plans distress you,—­if you find the delay hard, I am to say that it is even harder for him than it can be for you.  But circumstances compel him to act thus, and he expects you to understand and be patient.  Mr. Black, assure Mr. Ostrander that I am not likely to overstate the judge’s commands, or to add to or detract from them in the least particular—­that I am simply the judge’s mouthpiece.”

“You may believe that, Mr. Ostrander.”  Young Ostrander bowed.

“I have no doubt of the fact,” he assured her, with an unsuccessful effort to keep his trouble out of his voice.  “But as my father allows me some explanation, I shall be very glad to hear what has happened here to occasion my imperative recall.”

“Do you not read the papers, Mr. Ostrander?”

“I have not looked at one since I started upon my return.”

Mr. Black glanced at Deborah, who was slipping away.  Then he made a move towards the parlour.

“If you will come in and sit down, Mr. Ostrander, I’ll tell you what you have every right to know.”

But when they found themselves alone together, Oliver’s manner altered.

“One moment,” said he, before Mr. Black could speak.  “I should like to ask you first of all, if Miss Scoville is better.  When I left you both so suddenly at Tempest Lodge, she was not well.  I—­”

“She is quite recovered, Mr. Ostrander.”

“And is here?”

“Not yet.  I came back quickly—­like yourself.”

Involuntarily their glances met in a question which perhaps neither desired to have answered.  Then Oliver remarked quite simply: 

“My haste seemed warranted by my father’s message.  Five minutes,—­ one minute even is of great importance when you have but fifteen in which to catch a train.”

“And by such a route!”

“You know my route.”  A short laugh escaped him.  “I feared the delay—­possibly the interference—­But why discuss these unimportant matters!  I succeeded in my efforts.  I am here, at my father’s command, unattended and, as I believe, without the knowledge of any one but yourself and Mrs. Scoville.  But your reason for these hasty summons—­that is what I am ready now to hear.”  And he sat down, but in such a way as to throw his face very much into the shadow.