He waved his hand impatiently; would her confounded straightforwardness not let him forget? "Never mind."
"Never mind?" she repeated. "Father, we can't put this aside for a single minute. We must plan at once what shall be done."
"You always were fiery," he said indulgently. "Well, go ahead."
"We need Beth," and Judith went to call her in. Beth came, white with apprehension, having heard tones but not words, and feeling rather than knowing that there was trouble. She sought to learn all from one question. "Where is Mr. Ellis?"
"Gone," answered Judith. "He will not come here again."
"Oh," she cried, "I am glad. Then why so grave?"
"Mr. Ellis," her sister said, "has gone away very angry, and father owes him money." Then she looked upon the Colonel with sudden suspicion. "Father, you said about ten thousand dollars. Was it more?"
"My dear child," he protested, "this matter is not so great as you suppose. And I cannot tell you all of my affairs."
"Father," she returned, "for my sake, if not for yours, Mr. Ellis should be paid at once."
He rebuked her. "I know how to keep our honour clean. Mr. Ellis shall be paid at once."