Mrs. Lane did have company. She herself opened the front door to them. Mrs. Lane's eyes were red, and she looked frightened. "Wait," she said, and got between the little group and the parlour door. "Lily, you had best go straight upstairs, my dear! Miss Bedford, will you please wait here with me just a minute? Mr. Laydon, Mrs. LeGrand says will you come into the parlour? Hagar, you are to go, too. Your grandfather is here." Colonel Ashendyne stood between the table and the fire. Mrs. LeGrand was seated upon the sofa, which meant that she sat in state. Mrs. Lane, who came presently stealing in again, sat back from the centre in a meek, small chair, and at intervals wiped her eyes. The culprits stood. Colonel Argall Ashendyne never lacked words with which to express his meaning--words that bit. Now his well-cut lips opened, and out there came like a scimitar his part of the ensuing conversation. "Hagar, your letter was read yesterday evening. I immediately telegraphed to Mrs. LeGrand at Idlewood, and she obligingly took this morning's boat. I myself came down on the afternoon train, and got here two hours ago. Now, sir--" he turned on Laydon--"what have you got to say for yourself?" "I--I--" began Laydon. He drew a breath and his spine stiffened. "I have to say, sir, that I love your granddaughter, and that I have asked her to marry me." Mrs. LeGrand, while the colonel's hawk eye dwelt witheringly, spoke from the sofa. "I have no words, Mr. Laydon, in which to express my disapproval of your action, or my disappointment in one whom I had supposed a gentleman. In my absence you have chosen to abuse my confidence and to do a most dishonourable and ungentlemanly thing--a thing which, were it known, might easily bring disrepute upon Eglantine. You will understand, of course, that it terminates your connection with this school--" "Mrs. LeGrand," said Laydon, "I have done nothing dishonourable." "You have taken advantage of my absence, sir, to make love to one of my pupils--" "To an inexperienced child, sir," said the Colonel;--"too young to know better or to tell pinchbeck when she sees it! You should be caned." "Colonel Ashendyne, if you were a younger man--" "Bah!" said the Colonel. "I am younger now and more real than you!--Hagar!" "Yes, grandfather." "Come here!"