‘Old friends are always welcome, sir,’ said the old lady, warmly.  ‘My son, Mr. Kendal, sir—­Mrs. Kendal,’ she added, with a becoming old-fashioned movement of introduction.

‘Very glad to meet you,’ said the captain, extending to each such a hearty shake of the hand, that Albinia suspected he was taking her on trust for Maria’s sister.

‘Your little boy?’ asked Mrs. Meadows.

‘Ay—­Arthur, come and make the most of yourself, my man,’ said he, thumping the shy boy on the back to give him courage.  ’I’ve brought him home for his schooling—­quite time, you see, though what on earth I’m to do without him—­’

The boy looked miserable at the words.  ‘Ay, ay,’ continued his father, ’you’ll do well enough.  I’m not afraid for you, master, but that you’ll be happy as your father was before you, when once you have fellows to play with you.  Here is Mr. Kendal will tell you so.’

It was an unfortunate appeal, but Mr. Kendal made the best of it, saying that his boy was very happy at his tutor’s.

‘A private tutor, eh?’ said the rough captain, ’I’d not thought of that—­neither home nor school.  I had rather do it thoroughly, and trust to numbers to choose friends from, and be licked into shape.’

Poor little Arthur looked as if the process would be severe; and by way of consolation, Mrs. Meadows suggested, a piece of cake.  Maria moved to ring the bell.  It was the first time she had stirred since the visitor came in, and he getting up at the same time, that she might not trouble herself, their eyes met.  ’I’m very glad to see you again,’ he exclaimed, catching hold of her hand for another shake; ’but, bless me! you are sadly altered!  I’m sorry to see you looking so ill.’

‘We all grow old, you know,’ said Maria, endeavouring to smile, but half strangled by a tear, and looking at that moment as she might have done long ago.  ‘You find many changes.’

‘I hope you find Mr. Pringle pretty well,’ said Albinia, thinking this might be a relief, and accordingly, the kind-hearted captain began, ruefully to describe the sad alterations that time had wrought.  Then he explained that he had had little correspondence with home, and had only landed three days since, so that he was ignorant of all Bayford tidings, and began asking after a multitude of old friends and acquaintance.

The Kendals thought all would go on the better in their absence, and escaped from the record of deaths and marriages, each observing to the other as they left the house, that there could be little doubt that nurse’s story was true, but both amazed by the effect on Maria, who had never been seen before to sit so long quiet in her chair.  Was his wife alive?  Albinia thought not, but could not be certain.  His presence was evidently happiness to Miss Meadows, but would this last?  Would this renewal soothe her, or only make her more restless and unhappy?

Albinia found that Sophy’s imagination bad been quicker than her own.  Lucy had brought home the great news of the stranger, and she had leapt at once to the conclusion that it must be the hero of nurse’s story, but she had had the resolution to keep the secret from her sister, who was found reproaching her with making mysteries.  When Lucy heard that it was Captain Pringle, she was quite provoked.