“ItalkasifIwasastrangerhere，doI？“heresumed。“That’sexactlywhatIam。LadyLundieandIcorrespondonexcellentterms；butwerunindifferentgrooves，andweseeeachotherasseldomaspossible。Mystory，“continuedthepleasantoldman，withacharmingfranknesswhichleveledalldifferencesofageandrankbetweenArnoldandhimself，“isnotentirelyunlikeyours；thoughI_am_oldenoughtobeyourgrandfather。Iwasgettingmyliving，inmywayasacrustyoldScotchlawyer，whenmybrothermarriedagain。Hisdeath，withoutleavingasonbyeitherofhiswives，gavemealiftintheworld，likeyou。
HereIamtomyownsincereregretthepresentbaronet。Yes，tomysincereregret!AllsortsofresponsibilitieswhichIneverbargainedforarethrustonmyshoulders。Iamtheheadofthefamily；Iammyniece’sguardian；Iamcompelledtoappearatthislawn-party——andbetweenourselvesIamascompletelyoutofmyelementasamancanbe。Notasinglefamiliarfacemeets_me_amongallthesefinepeople。Doyouknowanybodyhere？“
“IhaveonefriendatWindygates，“saidArnold。“Hecameherethismorning，likeyou。GeoffreyDelamayn。“
Ashemadethereply，MissSilvesterappearedattheentrancetothesummer-house。Ashadowofannoyancepassedoverherfacewhenshesawthattheplacewasoccupied。Shevanished，unnoticed，andglidedbacktothegame。
SirPatricklookedatthesonofhisoldfriend，witheveryappearanceofbeingdisappointedintheyoungmanforthefirsttime。