"Billy, my boy," she said gently; "tell me all about it, as if I were your own mother." He looked up, and something in the expression of his blue eyes reminded her of a hunted animal. "What is there to tell?" "There ought to be a great deal," she said, smiling faintly. She was startled at the change in the boy, at his pallor and at the listlessness which pervaded his whole being. "But Dr. McAlister has told you." "Yes; but not all." She paused expectantly. He misunderstood the pause. As if goaded to desperation, he turned on her. "Are you going back on me, too, Mrs. McAlister? I thought you would stand my friend." "I do." "But you doubt my word?" She was silent, unable to say yes or no. He changed the form of his question. "Do you believe me?" "Billy, dear, I don't know what to think." He shook back his hair impatiently. "That's it. I'm not used to having my word doubted, and--it hurts." Meanwhile, Theodora and Hubert were in the hall. "Where are you going, Ted?" Hubert had asked, as they left the table. "To Billy." "I should think you might stay here, to-night, when Archie has just come." "Archie has you and Hope." "But it's not decent, Ted, to leave him." "It's not decent to send Billy off by himself," she retorted. "Who sends him?" "All of you." "He needn't sulk like a baby." "It isn't sulking, Hu. I'd go off and not stay with people who doubt my word." "Hm! He needn't lie, then." Theodora faced him angrily. "Shame, Hu! How do you know he lies? Is this the way you stand by your friends?" "He is no friend of mine." "He was. He is my friend now, as much as ever." Hubert shrugged his shoulders. "Girls always are sentimental, and your head is full of yarns, Ted. You are welcome to believe your Billy as much as you want to. Nobody else does." "I do." And Archie came striding into the hall. "I didn't mean to listen to you; but I couldn't help hearing. I know something of men. I haven't roughed it all this time for nothing, and I've seen all kinds. You will never make me believe that Will Farrington has lied to get himself out of a scrape. I'd sooner think that Allyn himself did it. Billy is a good fellow, and I'll stand by him and see fair play. Here's my hand on it, Ted." There was a manly ring to Archie's words and a hearty grip of his hand, and they sent Theodora to bed happier than she had been for days. It had been impossible for her to throw off Billy's trouble. The whole atmosphere of the house had seemed to be tainted by it. They all felt the weight of uncertainty and gloom more or less; but for Theodora, loyal to Billy as a girl could be, it amounted to a species of torture, and she felt an Ishmael indeed, with every man's hand against her. She never thought of swerving from her allegiance, however. Alone and unaided, she would fight for Billy against the world. Still, it was very good to find that Archie was upon her side.