"Of course he does. So do you, for thinking ill of your sister. I'll be bound to say, if you sent to Wimpole Street, you'd find the poor girls there soaking pocket-handkerchiefs." "By Jove! yes," cried Dick, starting at the doctor's suggestion. "Why, of course. Doctor, you've hit it! Depend upon it, they're gone to Uncle Robert's, father." "Think so, my boy, eh?--think so?" said the old gentleman. "It would be very dull and gloomy." "Nonsense!" said the doctor. "My dear boy, the more I think of it, the more likely it seems to me that they have gone there." "Yes; that's it, doctor. Guv'nor, I don't like to be hard on you, but the doctor's a very old friend. It's a nice thing--isn't it?--that our girls should have to go to Uncle Robert's for the protection they cannot find here?" "Yes, my dear boy, it is, it is," said the old man querulously; "but I can't help it. Her ladyship took the reins as soon as we were married, and she's held them very tightly ever since." "Well, we'll go and see. You'll stay with Frank Morrison, doctor?" "Stay, sir? Yes, I will. Think I'm going to be dragged down here from Highgate for nothing? I'll make Master Morrison play the shoddy-devil in his Yorkshire mill for something. He shall have such a bill as shall astonish him." "Here, fetch a cab," shouted Dick to the man who answered the bell; and soon after the jangling vehicle was taking them to Wimpole Street. It was four o'clock, and broad daylight, as the cab drew up at Captain Millet's door, when, in answer to a ring which Dick expected it would take half an hour to get attended to, the door was opened directly by Vidler. "You were expecting us, then?" said Dick, as the little man put his head on one side, and glanced from the young officer to his father, and back again. "Yes, sir. Master said you might come at any time, so I sat up." "All right, father; they're here. What time did they come, Vidler?" "They, sir?" "Yes--my sisters," said Dick impatiently. "What time did they come?" "Miss Renee came here about half-past ten, sir." "There, dad," whispered Dick. "And Frank swore she'd gone off with Malpas. I knew it wasn't true. He wouldn't insult a brother officer like that." "I'm very glad, my boy--I'm very glad," said Sir Humphrey feebly; and Dick turned to Vidler again. "And Miss Gertrude, what time did she get here?" "Miss Gertrude, sir?" "Don't be a stupid old idiot!" cried Dick excitedly. "I say--what-- time--did--my--sister--Gertrude-get here?" "She has not been here, sir," replied the little man--"not to-night." Dick looked blankly at his father, and, in spite of his determination not to believe the story suggested about his sister, it seemed to try and force itself upon his brain. "Where is Mrs Morrison?" he cried at last. "Lying down, sir. Salome is watching by her. She seemed in great distress, sir, and," he added in a whisper, "we think master came out of his room and went to her when we had gone down."