was a soothing thing. Why did it seem to give
him a sense of home-coming which he had been
sure he could never feel again -- that sense of the
beauty of land and sky and purple bloom of distance
and a warming of the heart at drawing
nearer to the great old house which had held those
of his blood for six hundred years? How he had
driven away from it the last time, shuddering to
think of its closed rooms and the boy lying in the
four-posted bed with the brocaded hangings.
Was it possible that perhaps he might find him
changed a little for the better and that he might
overcome his shrinking from him? How real
that dream had been -- how wonderful and clear
the voice which called back to him, "In the garden
-- In the garden!"

"I will try to find the key," he said. "I will
try to open the door. I must -- though I don't
know why."

When he arrived at the Manor the servants who
received him with the usual ceremony noticed that
he looked better and that he did not go to the
remote rooms where he usually lived attended by
Pitcher. He went into the library and sent for
Mrs. Medlock. She came to him somewhat excited
and curious and flustered.

"How is Master Colin, Medlock?" he inquired.

[[366]]

p365 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p366w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p367

v?