“How you talk, Jess,” interposed her sister. “If he ever does find his people, it doesn’t follow that they will be wealthy. Indeed, he’d probably never have been given to the Morriseys if his father hadn’t been too poor to support him.” Eva took a deep interest in the case. She was of a literary turn of mind, and wove many a romance in her busy brain about the early history of this strange youth, who seemed so extraordinarily gentle, considering his rough bringing up. Sydney came home just before the twins’ vacation ended. “Oh, Syd!” Rex suddenly exclaimed, that first evening as they were all seated in the library, listening to Florida experiences. “Miles has heard from this Morrisey boy.” “Well,” replied Sydney, “did he learn anything of importance?” “Yes, he found out the name his father and mother used when they were talking about the man who brought Miles to them.” “And what was it?” “Darley.” Sydney fell back in his chair and grew as white as a ghost. CHAPTER XXVII SYDNEY GOES ON A MYSTERIOUS EXPEDITION The family were greatly alarmed at Sydney’s collapse. Mrs. Pell had fondly hoped that his Southern trip would be of permanent benefit to him, and here he was breaking down on the first night of his return. Not one of them associated his seizure in any way with the subject on which they had been talking except Rex. He could not but recall a somewhat similar attack, when Sydney had fainted in his office while he (Rex) was telling Scott Bowman of their inheritance. But Miles Harding’s affairs had nothing to do with this. What did it all mean? Rex asked himself, as he sped off for the doctor. When he got back, Sydney had come to, but seemed to be suffering severely. And yet when asked if he was in pain, he would shake his head and beg so imploringly that they would leave him to himself, that the fears of the family were intensified many fold. The doctor was utterly nonplused. He prescribed a quieting potion, and went away, promising to return again in the morning. “And perhaps you had better humor him in his desire to be left alone,” he said to Mrs. Pell. “But of course arrange to be near in case another collapse occurs.” The household separated for bed that night with sober faces. “Syd hasn’t been like himself since Mr. Tyler died,” remarked Roy, lingering at the door of Rex’s room. Rex did not reply immediately. He stood looking at his brother intently for an instant, then he put a hand on Roy’s shoulder, gently pulled him into the room and closed the door behind him. “Sit down a minute, Roy,” he said gravely; “I want to tell you something.” “What is it? What makes you look so solemn, Reggie? Is it anything about Syd?” “Yes, it’s about Syd. Something that happened last summer, and which he told me not to tell; but it seems to me that I ought to tell now.”