CHAPTER V.

"IS IT BECAUSE YOU WENT TO THE BAD?"

"IT'S getting damp and cold," said Gerald at last; "we must be going home." And hand-in-hand the twins wended homeward.

A short stretch of road came between the wood and the shrubbery that surrounded their house, and they had left the road and just entered the shrubbery gate, when they saw, a little way in front of them, the tall figure of a young man walking at a good pace towards the house.

"Who can that be?" said Gerald in a whisper. "Visitors never come up this way."

Suddenly the young fellow, perhaps hearing voices or footsteps behind him, turned his head, saw the children following, and stayed waiting till they came up.

"What do you want? This is not the visitors' way," said Gerald, rather rudely, staring at the tall upright figure in the semi-darkness.

"I know," replied the young man; "I am not a visitor. I was going round to the servants' entrance. Perhaps you will kindly tell me," (and he turned to Dina, who had not yet spoken), "if the old nurse who used to live in Mr. Ellis's family is still there."

"Yes," replied the little girl, "she is. Did you want her?"

"I did—I do," replied the stranger, with a smile which set the child's heart beating fast; "I wanted to ask her a question."

"Maybe we can answer your question," suggested Gerald.

"Thank you; I only wished to ask whether Robert Ellis's room had been allowed to remain as he left it, or if it had been turned out and altered."

"Oh!" cried Dina, "We know all about that. Dear mother would never—right from the first—have a thing touched. The room was kept clean and had a fire in it sometimes, but everything is the same as it used to be—even the dear beautiful Brother Bob picture on the wall."

A queer sound came from the stranger's lips. Then in a choked voice he said, "Some papers left in the room are wanted, and I thought perhaps nurse would get them for me—to—give to Robert Ellis."

But just here Dina, who had been gazing intently into the stranger's face, gave a joyful cry.

"Oh, Gerry! Don't you see? It's Brother Bob himself—I know it is! Oh, Brother Bob, you can't think how I've wanted you! Come home with us!" And Dina caught hold of his hand.

But the young fellow shook his head. "No," he said, "I must not."

"Why?" asked Dina. "Is it because you went to the bad?" An odd sort of smile, half comical, half sad, curled the handsome lips as he nodded assent.

"Well," put in Gerald, "wherever you went, you're not there now, for you're here with us—your step-brother and sister—so come along. You shall see nurse and your old room, and maybe dad, but I won't answer for him, because no one can, you know."

The interview between Bob Ellis and nurse, and the young man's visit to his own room, were managed easily enough. The other servants were at tea downstairs, out of sight and hearing, and Mr. Ellis was, as usual, in his study, which was on the first floor and facing the opposite side of the house.

When Bob and nurse came down, they found the twins waiting for them at the foot of the stairs.

"Have you found your papers, Brother Bob?" inquired Gerald.

"Yes, I have," replied the young man.

"And you saw your picture again, that we're so fond of?" queried Dina.

"Yes, I saw my picture too. And now," added Bob, "I must be off. It will hardly do for father to catch me here."

"I should think he'd be glad to see you again after this long time!" said Dina. "And if he asked you to come home to live, you would, wouldn't you?"

Bob looked down into the earnest little face uplifted towards him, and said gently, "Well, dear, perhaps, if he really wished it."