He uttered a few commonplace remarks. He was vastly disturbed, and even a téte-à-téte with Miss Ida did not calm him. It was on the tip of his tongue all the time to venture upon the ground of financial difficulties. Yet it was quite plain to the professor’s observation that Miss Ida was not after all in her brother’s confidence regarding this very serious matter. If outsiders were informed of the disaster that threatened or had overtaken the Nicholets, the head of the family had managed thus far to hide it from the other members thereof. Miss Ida was quite unaware of any present or coming disaster. The professor desired greatly to get hold of John Nicholet. He finally said: "When John returns, tell him to come and see me." He rose from his seat. "I really wish to talk with him. Perhaps there is something I may be able to do——" His words trailed off again into silence. He said good-night and descended the steps. When his figure was only a dim outline across the lawn, Miss Ida sighed. A dainty person in a shimmering frock came lightly to her side from the darker end of the porch. "What did the professor want, Aunt Ida?" "I really cannot imagine," Miss Ida said, quite composedly. "But didn’t he seem disturbed—more than usually difficult?" "’Difficult’ does express it, Lorna," said Miss Ida. "He said he wished to talk with your father." "On business?" Lorna asked with some eagerness. "Yes. He intimated as much. But why——" "Oh, Auntie!" exclaimed the girl. "I am afraid it is true! I told father." "What did you tell him? What are you talking about?" asked Miss Ida Nicholet in her most placid manner. "I believe Professor Endicott is in financial difficulties. They say he has lost his money—has quite ruined the family." "Lorna!" "Yes. I told father. I wish he were at home now. He is so full of this new business deal that he must have forgotten what I told him I had heard about the Endicotts. I believe that is what is troubling Ralph so much—makes him go mooning about as he does." "Indeed!" ejaculated Miss Ida. "Are you quite sure that it is not your treatment of the boy that causes his moodiness?" "Oh, dear, Aunt Ida! Ralph Endicott does not care how I treat him. I wish you could have heard him when we were coming up from Lower Trillion the other day in his _Fenique_. Called me ’kid’! Girls mean nothing to him. At least, not _this_ girl," and she laughed airily. "But, Lorna," said her aunt, "can it be possible that this tale you have heard is true—about the loss of Henry’s money?" "Well, Aunt Ida, how did the professor impress you just now?" "As acting very strangely—even for him. And his peculiar manner did not seem to arise as usual from his habitual absent-mindedness." "That is what I thought. Of course the poor old fellow always does have a ’lost, strayed, or stolen’ way about him——" "Why, Lorna! Professor Henry Endicott is not old—not at all!" admonished Miss Ida heatedly.