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〃What does this mean？〃 he demanded。 〃What are you doing with
that man？ Why did you bring him here？〃
As the soldiers straightened to attention； their prisoner ceased to
struggle； and stood with his head bent on his chest。 His sombrero was
pulled down low across his forehead。
〃He was crawling through the bushes； Sir Charles；〃 the soldier panted；
〃watching that gentleman； sir；〃he nodded over his shoulder towards
Collier。 〃I challenged； and he jumped to run； and we collared him。 He
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resisted； Sir Charles。〃
The mind of the Governor was concerned with other matters than
trespassers。
〃Well； take him to the barracks； then；〃 he said。 〃Report to me in the
morning。 That will do。〃
The prisoner wheeled eagerly； without further show of resistance； and
the soldiers closed in on him on either side。 But as the three men moved
away together； their faces； which had been in shadow； were now turned
towards Mr。 Collier； who was advancing leisurely； and with silent
footsteps； across the grass。 He met them face to face； and as he did so
the prisoner sprang back and threw out his arms in front of him； with the
gesture of a man who entreats silence。 Mr。 Collier halted as though
struck to stone； and the two men confronted each other without moving。
〃Good God！〃 Mr。 Collier whispered。
He turned stiffly and slowly； as though in a trance； and beckoned to his
wife； who had followed him。
〃Alice！〃 he called。 He stepped backwards towards her； and taking
her hand in one of his； drew her towards the prisoner。 〃Here he is！〃 he
said。
They heard her cry 〃Henry！〃 with the fierceness of a call for help； and
saw her rush forward and stumble into the arms of the prisoner； and their
two heads were bent close together。
Collier ran up the steps and explained breathlessly。
〃And now；〃 he gasped； in conclusion； 〃what's to be done？ What's he
arrested for？ Is it bailable？ What？〃
〃Good heavens！〃 exclaimed Sir Charles； miserably。 〃It is my fault
entirely。 I assure you I had no idea。 How could I？ But I should have
known； I should have guessed it。〃 He dismissed the sentries with a
gesture。 〃That will do；〃 he said。 〃Return to your posts。〃
Mr。 Collier laughed with relief。
〃Then it is not serious？〃 he asked。
〃Hehe had no money； that was all；〃 exclaimed Sir Charles。
〃Serious？ Certainly not。 Upon my word； I'm sorry〃
The young man had released himself from his sister's embrace； and
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was coming towards them； and Sir Charles； eager to redeem himself；
advanced hurriedly to greet him。 But the young man did not see him； he
was looking past him up the steps to where Miss Cameron stood in the
shadow。
Sir Charles hesitated and drew back。 The young man stopped at the
foot of the steps； and stood with his head raised； staring up at the white
figure of the girl； who came slowly forward。
It was forced upon Sir Charles that in spite of the fact that the young
man before them had but just then been rescued from arrest； that in spite
of his mean garments and ragged sandals； something about himthe
glamour that surrounds the prodigal； or possibly the moonlightgave him
an air of great dignity and distinction。
As Miss Cameron descended the stairs； Sir Charles recognized for the
first time that the young man was remarkably handsome； and he resented
it。 It hurt him； as did also the prodigal's youth and his assured bearing。
He felt a sudden sinking fear； a weakening of all his vital forces； and he
drew in his breath slowly and deeply。 But no one noticed him； they were
looking at the tall figure of the prodigal； standing with his hat at his hip
and his head thrown back； holding the girl with his eyes。
Collier touched Sir Charles on the arm； and nodded his head towards
the library。 〃Come；〃 he whispered； 〃let us old people leave them together。
They've a good deal to say。〃 Sir Charles obeyed in silence； and crossing
the library to the great oak chair； seated himself and leaned wearily on the
table before him。 He picked up one of the goose quills and began
separating it into little pieces。 Mr。 Collier was pacing up and down；
biting excitedly on the end of his cigar。 〃Well； this has certainly been a
great night；〃 he said。 〃And it is all due to you； Sir Charlesall due to you。
Yes； they have you to thank for it。〃
〃They？ 〃 said Sir Charles。 He knew that it had to come。 He wanted
the man to strike quickly。
〃They？ YesFlorence Cameron and Henry；〃 Mr。 Collier answered。
〃Henry went away because she wouldn't marry him。 She didn't care for
him then； but afterwards she cared。 Now they're reunited； and so
they're happy； and my wife is more than happy； and I won't have to bother
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any more； and it's all right； and all through you。〃
〃I am glad；〃 said Sir Charles。 There was a long pause； which the men；
each deep in his own thoughts； did not notice。
〃You will be leaving now； I suppose？〃 Sir Charles asked。 He was
looking down； examining the broken pen in his hand。
Mr。 Collier stopped in his walk and considered。 〃Yes； I suppose they
will want to get back；〃 he said。 〃I shall be sorry myself。 And you？
What will you do？〃
Sir Charles started slightly。 He had not yet thought what he would do。
His eyes wandered over the neglected work； which had accumulated on
the desk before him。 Only an hour before he had thought of it as petty
and little； as something unworthy of his energy。 Since that time what
change had taken place in him？
For him everything had changed； he answered； but in him there had
been no change； and if this thing which the girl had brought into his life
had meant the best in life； it must always mean that。 Sh