Ralph Elthorne saw it, and his facial muscles twitched, and an angry look came into his eyes, but he passed it off with a forced smile. "Now, now," he cried; "none of that, my dears. It's nothing. We've had many a run together, and I've only had a fall. Don't you two begin any of that nonsense. I was a bit hurt, but I'm Ralph Elthorne still: daddy to you, my darlings, in name only yet, but it's going to be real before long, you know. I'm not ill, only a bit crippled for the present. I'm not an invalid, my dears, so out with it--what is it?" There were words in his little speech which made their task more difficult still, and they glanced at each other again. "Come, Saxa," he cried--"come, Dana, let's have it. You don't want to make me angry?" "No, no," cried Saxa, and she sank upon her knees by him, and laid her head upon his shoulder. "Then speak out. There's something serious on the way. Ah, I see! Isabel! She has not gone--absurd! She was here just now." "No, no, sir; it is not that." "Hah!" he ejaculated. "She would not dare. Well, then, what is it? You, Dana, speak, my child." Dana was silent, and he turned angrily upon Saxa. "You are the elder girl. Tell me at once. I know: it is something about one of the boys." "He must know, Dan; speak out," said Saxa firmly. "Why do you put it on my shoulders?" cried Dana angrily. "Very well, then, if I must. Daddy, it isn't my fault, but that's all over now." "What is, my girl?" "All that with Alison; and we've come to say good-bye. We are going back home." "What?" he cried. "Nonsense! rubbish! Some silly lovers' tiff. What has he said to you? Bah, my pretty one! Go down and box his ugly ears, and make him beg your pardon; you can do it, I know." "And is Saxa to do the same?" she said bitterly. "What! you are not in trouble, too, with Neil?" Saxa was silent. Ralph Elthorne made an effort to raise himself, but his head fell back heavily, and he uttered a low moan at his helplessness and wiped his face. "Look here," he said in a low trembling voice; "I know you two girls love me, and always have, since you were little bits of things, and it all increased when your poor dying father and mother begged me to act as your guardian. Come, now; I've done my duty to you both." "Always, dear," said Saxa tenderly. "Then now, both of you do your duty by me. You, Saxa, my child, speak. You came here to stay for a day or two. I wished it so that you and the boys might see more of each other. I see; you have quarrelled." "Not yet," said the girl firmly. "There is no need to quarrel; all that is at an end." "What?" "Yes, at an end, guardian," said Dana. "If Alison prefers another woman to me, he may have her." "Alison? Another woman? Has he dared to trifle with you? to oppose my wishes? No; it is a mistake. And you, Saxa, my girl--what is wrong with you?"