Chapter 27

mine ramily nest , not as a poor relation , but as the arbiter of their fate . " Ah , here is Donald ! ' said Sir Archibald with satisfaction Joan half turned and looked at the young man who had just entered the room ; he was of middle height and his head poked forward a little , no doubt with stooping over experiments and books . He was slight and his features bore little resemblance to his father's , he was clean - shaven , yet he had a very determined jaw and his mouth was rather thin - lipped , in contrast to the dreamy blue eyes behind tortoiseshell - rimmed glasses . He looked quiet and studious , and yet there was a ' something about him which seemed in keeping with this old castle . He wore a conventional lounge suit of dark grey ; his tie , socks and handkerchief matched , and his reddish hair was brushed until it shone . ' I beg your pardon , ' he said , coming straight across to Joan . ' I mistook the time , being engrossed in a very delicate experiment . I know I should