Elizabeth repeated the telegram. 'Your father is going off at once. I have telephoned for the car.' 'Oh, but I must go too--of course I must!' said Alice, weeping. 'Where is my maid?' Elizabeth pointed out gently that, in speaking of the permits for France, Major Mannering had only referred to the Squire and Pamela. 'Oh, but he must have meant me too--of course he must! Where is my maid?' She rang the upstairs' bell violently. 'Oh, father, how _awful_!'--the Squire had just entered the hall--'of course I'm going with you?' 'What does she mean?' said the Squire impatiently to Elizabeth. 'Tell her I'm going alone.' 'But, father, you must take me!' cried Alice, running forward with clasped hands. 'He is my brother! I must see him again!' 'He asks for Pamela,' said the Squire grimly. 'Aubrey shall wire to you. You'd better stay here--if Miss Bremerton will look after you.' 'I don't want to be looked after--I want to look after Desmond and you,' said Alice, with sobs. The Squire's eyes travelled over the soft elaboration of her dress and hair--all her perfumed and fashionable person. 'It is impossible,' he said sharply. Then turning to Elizabeth he gave her a few directions about his letters. 'I shall get money in town. I will wire directly we arrive.' Alice was silenced, and sat half sulky, half sobbing, by the fire, while the preparations for departure went forward. She offered help hysterically once or twice, but it was not needed. The little car from the village arrived in half an hour. The Squire stood at the hall door waiting for it. He had not spoken since the news arrived except to give the most necessary orders. But as he saw the car nearing the house, he turned to Elizabeth. 'I expect we shall cross to-night. I shall wire you to-morrow.' Then to Forest-- 'Do your best to help Miss Bremerton. She is in charge of everything.' 'Aye, sir. You'll give our duty to Mr. Desmond, sir. I trust you'll bring him home.' The Squire made no reply. He stood motionless till the car arrived, stepped into it, and was gone. Elizabeth went back into the house, and to Alice Gaddesden, still sobbing by the fire. At sight of Elizabeth she broke out into complaints of her father's unkindness, mixed presently, to Elizabeth's dismay, with jealousy of her father's secretary. 'I don't know why father didn't let me help him with his packing, and it's I who should have been left in charge! I'm his eldest daughter--it is natural that I should be. I can tell you it's very hard--to see somebody--who's not a relation--doing--doing everything for him!--so that he won't let anybody else advise him--or do anything! It is very--very--wounding for us all. Pamela feels it--I know she does--and Desmond too.' Elizabeth, very white and distressed, knelt down by her and tried to calm her. But the flood of angry self-pity could not be stayed.