"No, I only supposed so." She passed on, and at the same moment Leonore appeared. "There you are!" cried Sybil gaily. "Come along, and be sociable. You have been a most unsociable little creature all day. Now then, aren't you coming?" But Leo was not coming. Obviously she was disconcerted at sight of her sister, and shook her head as though vexed at being accosted. "Nonsense! Don't go hiding yourself again," resumed Sybil. "What's the use of moping? And it doesn't make it any pleasanter for the rest of us that Paul is in the dumps in one room, and you in another. We are none too cheerful without that." "Where is Paul?" "In the library. Over the fire. So Maud says, and declares he has lumbago. I don't believe it. He simply doesn't want to be bothered with her and her eternal 'plans'." "You are sure he is there?" "Go and look for yourself if you doubt Maud's word. Why? Do you want him?" But Leo threw her a strange look, a look of such bitter, ironical meaning, that she appended hastily; "You are not such a little fool as to be worrying yourself over those two and their affairs? Maud won't thank you if you do. She is rather put out as it is, because I hinted that you took to heart our going more than she did. I didn't _say_ so, you know--but I should, if she had gone on much longer. However, she went off to Paul." "And Paul is safe, in there?" "Paul is safe--in there. Let sleeping dogs lie. Well? Oh, Leo, you really are too bad,--" for Leo had turned at the words, and was remounting the staircase. "One can't say a word to her that she doesn't vanish on the instant," muttered Sybil; "how I do dislike that way she has got into! And when Maud goes, of course I shall have to take up with Leo. Hullo! Sue?" "I was looking for Leo," said Sue. "Did you look in the only place you were likely to find her? She has hardly been out of her room all day." "Has she not been out-of-doors at all? Poor child!" "I tried to get her to come for a walk this morning, but she wouldn't." "She seems----" said Sue, and stopped short. "Yes, we all know what she seems, and is: in an uncommonly bad temper, for some reason or other. There is nothing for it but to let her alone." "I am rather anxious about her somehow, Syb." "And now we shall have you in the blues too! For sheer pity bear up, and don't let me be the only one--and I suppose I have feelings too. It really is disgusting, every one giving way but me." "I think I _must_ go and see what Leo is doing?" "I think you _must_ do nothing of the kind. You will make nothing of her. I've tried. She was here just now." "And did you not notice anything? It is not only her face; but her voice, her manner----"