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〃Isn't it lovely？〃 said Miss Milroy。 〃Do come in！〃
〃May I？〃 asked Allan。 〃Won't the major think it too early？〃
〃Early or late； I am sure papa will be only too glad to see you。〃
She led the way briskly up the garden path； and opened the parlor
door。 As Allan followed her into the little room； he saw； at the
further end of it； a gentleman sitting alone at an old…fashioned
writing…table； with his back turned to his visitor。
〃Papa！ a surprise for you！〃 said Miss Milroy； rousing him from
his occupation。 〃Mr。 Armadale has come to Thorpe Ambrose； and I
have brought him here to see you。〃
The major started； rose； bewildered for the moment； recovered
himself immediately； and advanced to welcome his young landlord；
with hospitable； outstretched hand。
A man with a larger experience of the world and a finer
observation of humanity than Allan possessed would have seen the
story of Major Milroy's life written in Major Milroy's face。 The
home troubles that had struck him were plainly betrayed in his
stooping figure and his wan； deeply wrinkled cheeks； when he
first showed himself on rising from his chair。 The changeless
influence of one monotonous pursuit and one monotonous habit of
thought was next expressed in the dull； dreamy self…absorption of
his manner and his look while his daughter was speaking to him。
The moment after； when he had roused himself to welcome his
guest； was the moment which made the self…revelation complete。
Then there flickered in the major's weary eyes a faint reflection
of the spirit of his happier youth。 Then there passed over the
major's dull and dreamy manner a change which told unmistakably
of social graces and accomplishments； learned at some past time
in no ignoble social school； a man who had long since taken his
patient refuge from trouble in his own mechanical pursuit； a man
only roused at intervals to know himself again for what he once
had been。 So revealed to all eyes that could read him aright；
Major Milroy now stood before Allan； on the first morning of an
acquaintance which was destined to be an event in Allan's life。
〃I am heartily glad to see you； Mr。 Armadale；〃 he said； speaking
in the changeless quiet； subdued tone peculiar to most men whose
occupations are of the solitary and monotonous kind。 〃You have
done me one favor already by taking me as your tenant； and you
now do me another by paying this friendly visit。 If you have not
breakfasted already； let me waive all ceremony on my side； and
ask you to take your place at our little table。〃
〃With the greatest pleasure； Major Milroy； if I am not in the
way；〃 replied Allan； delighted at his reception。 〃I was sorry to
hear from Miss Milroy that Mrs。 Milroy is an invalid。 Perhaps my
being here unexpectedly； perhaps the sight of a strange face〃
〃I understand your hesitation； Mr。 Armadale；〃 said the major；
〃but it is quite unnecessary。 Mrs。 Milroy's illness keeps her
entirely confined to her own room。Have we got everything we
want on the table； my love？〃 he went on； changing the subject so
abruptly that a closer observer than Allan might have suspected
it was distasteful to him。 〃Will you come and make tea？〃
Miss Milroy's attention appeared to be already pre…engaged； she
made no reply。 While her father and Allan had been exchanging
civilities； she had been putting the writing…table
in order； and examining the various objects scattered on it with
the unrestrained curiosity of a spoiled child。 The moment after
the major had spoken to her； she discovered a morsel of paper
hidden between the leaves of the blotting…book； snatched it up；
looked at it； and turned round instantly； with an exclamation of
surprise。
〃Do my eyes deceive me； papa？〃 she asked。 〃Or were you really and
truly writing the advertisement when I came in？〃
〃I had just finished it；〃 replied her father。 〃But； my dear； Mr。
Armadale is herewe are waiting for breakfast。〃
〃Mr。 Armadale knows all about it；〃 rejoined Miss Milroy。 〃I told
him in the garden。〃
〃Oh； yes！〃 said Allan。 〃Pray； don't make a stranger of me； major！
If it's about the governess； I've got something （in an indirect
sort of way） to do with it too。〃
Major Milroy smiled。 Before he could answer； his daughter； who
had been reading the advertisement； appealed to him eagerly； for
the second time。
〃Oh； papa；〃 she said； 〃there's one thing here I don't like at
all！ Why do you put grandmamma's initials at the end？ Why do you
tell them to write to grandmamma's house in London？〃
〃My dear！ your mother can do nothing in this matter； as you know。
And as for me （even if I went to London）； questioning strange
ladies about their characters and accomplishments is the last
thing in the world that I am fit to do。 Your grandmamma is on the
spot； and your grandmamma is the proper person to receive the
letters； and to make all the necessary inquires。〃
〃But I want to see the letters myself；〃 persisted the spoiled
child。 〃Some of them are sure to be amusing〃
〃I don't apologize for this very unceremonious reception of you；
Mr。 Armadale；〃 said the major； turning to Allan； with a quaint
and quiet humor。 〃It may be useful as a warning； if you ever
chance to marry and have a daughter； not to begin； as I have
done； by letting her have her own way。〃
Allan laughed； and Miss Milroy persisted。
〃Besides；〃 she went on； 〃I should like to help in choosing which
letters we answer； and which we don't。 I think I ought to have
some voice in the selection of my own governess。 Why not tell
them； papa； to send their letters down hereto the post…office
or the stationer's； or anywhere you like？ When you and I have
read them； we can send up the letters we prefer to grandmamma；
and she can ask all the questions； and pick out the best
governess； just as you have arranged already； without leaving ME
entirely in the dark； which I consider （don't you； Mr。 Armadale？）
to be quite inhuman。 Let me alter the address； papa； do； there's
a darling！〃
〃We shall get no breakfast； Mr。 Armadale； if I don't say Yes；〃
said the major good…humoredly。 〃Do as you like； my dear；〃 he
added； turning to his daughter。 〃As long as it ends in your
grandmamma's managing the matter for us； the rest is of very
little consequence。〃
Miss Milroy took up her father's pen； drew it through the last
line of the advertisement； and wrote the altered address with her
own hand as follows：
〃_Apply； by letter； to M。； Post…office； Thorpe Ambrose；
Norfolk。_〃
〃There！〃 she said； bustling to her place at the breakfast…table。
〃The advertisement may go to London now； and； if a governess
_does_ come of it； oh； papa； who in the name of wonder will she
be？Tea or coffee； Mr。 Armadale？ I'm really ashamed of having
kept you waiting。 But it is such a comfort；〃 she added； saucily；
〃to get all one's business off one's mind before breakfast！〃
Father； daughter； and guest sat down together sociably at the
little round table； the best of good neighbors and good friends
already。
Three days later； one of the London newsboys got _his_ business
off his mind before breakfast。 His district was Diana Street；
Pimlico； and the last of the morning's newspapers which he
disposed of was