“What has she been up to?” he demanded sharply. “Nothing. It’s not her fault this time. But that young man of hers is in a very nasty position, from all accounts. Come back as soon as you can, dear, and see what you can do.” Kean’s scowl deepened. “Young Leslie? I’d forgotten that affair of hers. Well, what’s he been doing?” He paused for a moment as though trying to control his impatience, then: “I won’t have you worried over the affairs of a couple of children, Sybil!” Sybil Kean laughed in spite of herself at the intense exasperation in his voice. “My dear, it doesn’t do me any harm and, anyhow, I shall worry much less if I know that you have taken a hand in things. They really do need advice, Edward.” “If you take my advice, you’ll keep out of the affair. Let them settle their troubles in their own way.” “You don’t even know what their troubles are! Don’t be difficult, Edward!” Lady Kean’s voice was very appealing. She did not often take this line with her husband, but when she did she almost invariably got her own way. “Well, I want you to keep out of it, whatever it is,” he said curtly. “Edward, John Leslie’s mother was a great friend of mine and she was extraordinarily kind to me as a girl. I really do owe her something and I am fond of both John and Cynthia. I can’t keep out of it and I am counting on you to stand by me. Be nice about it and come back as soon as you can.” “Well, you haven’t told me yet what _is_ the matter,” he temporized. In as few words as possible she repeated all she had been able to learn from Cynthia, supplemented by the account of Dr. Gregg, who had turned up on a professional visit to Lady Kean on the day after the girl’s arrival. Kean heard her in silence and, for some moments after she had finished, made no comment. Then he gave vent to a muffled exclamation. “What did you say?” “I said ‘The Devil!’” he replied grimly. “What on earth did the young idiot want to go roaming all over the country for at that time of night? Very well, I’ll see what I can do, though I should have preferred it if you had managed to keep out of it altogether. It’s bad for you and I don’t like it.” “When can you come? Cynthia’s aching to see you. Nobody seems to be doing anything and the inaction is hard on the child.” “I can’t get away before this evening, but I’ll come straight through on the night train. It means I shall have to come up again for a consultation at once. After that I shall be free for a bit.” “When were you coming if this hadn’t happened?” “I had intended to drive down the day after to-morrow. I’m going to bring the car and take you back by road when we go. It’s less tiring for you than the train.”