"Why, yes, where’s Cuthbert?" said Jean. Their minute differences had engaged their minds so fully, that no one had really begun to wonder about Cuthbert until that moment. "He is always in such good time," said Mrs. Leighton in a puzzled way. "Didn’t he say to any one that he would be late?" No one knew anything about him. They speculated, and collected at the dinner-table still speculating. Even Cousin Harry knew nothing of him, but that, of course, was because of the flower show. While the meal was in progress, Mr. Maclean appeared quietly in the room. He had prepared a little speech for Mrs. Leighton, but it died on his lips as he saw her face. It was a curious thing, as they afterwards reflected, that Mr. Maclean went on speaking to Mrs. Leighton as though she knew of everything that had happened to Cuthbert. "He is all right, Mrs. Leighton, but he wouldn’t let me bring him in until I told you that he was all right." "Bring him in----" It seemed to the Leightons that Mr. Maclean had been standing all his life in their dining-room saying that Cuthbert was all right, but wouldn’t be "brought in." Mr. Leighton put down his table napkin in a methodical manner. "You’d better come with me and see him, Lucy," he said to his wife. Nothing could have more alarmed the girls. On no occasion had Mr. Leighton ever referred to his wife as Lucy. "Oh, Cuthbert must be dead," cried Betty. "Nonsense," said Mr. Leighton, with a white face. "Where is Harry?" Harry had slipped out after a direct glance from Mr. Maclean, and was at that moment assisting two doctors to lift Cuthbert from a carriage. "Look here, you kids," sang out Cuthbert, "I’ve only broken a rib or two. You needn’t look scared. I shall allow you to nurse me. You won’t be dull, I can tell you." Mrs. Leighton gave a sharp little gasp. Her face looked drawn and only half its size. "Oh, Cuthbert," she said. "I won’t move," said Cuthbert, "till you stop being anxious about me. Maclean, you are a bit of an idiot--look how you’ve frightened her!" Elma found Betty in partial hysterics in the dining-room with Jean hanging over her in a corresponding condition. "I say, you two," she said in a disgusted manner. "You’ll frighten mother more than ever. Get up, and don’t be idiots." "You’re as pale as death yourself," cried Jean hotly. "Oh--am I," said Elma in almost a pleased voice. She longed to go and see the effect for herself, but the condition of Betty prevented her. "Well, it’s our first shock," she said in an important manner. "I never felt _awful_ like this before." "I’m sure Cuthbert will die," cried Betty. "Oh, don’t." Elma turned on her fiercely. "Why do you say such dreadful things." "If you think he will die, Betty, he will die," sobbed Jean. "Oh, Jean, Jean, do brace up," said Elma. "I don’t want to cry, and every minute I’m getting nearer it. Harry says it’s just a knock on the ribs, and the navy men don’t even go to bed for that."