"I believe you have been sent to me," he said. "I am in great trouble. I was just coming out to find either you or Miss Pembroke. Come into my study. No, not into the drawing-room."
Then turning to his parlourmaid, who stood by, he said with some agitation:
"Will you tell Miss Borlace that I am engaged for the present and cannot be disturbed."
"Who is Miss Borlace?" asked Sidney, with interest, as she followed him into his study. "Is it some relative of yours?"
Mr. Borlace sat down heavily in his big arm-chair, and shook his head in rather a helpless fashion.
"My dear Sidney, I'm sadly afraid she is—sadly afraid."
Sidney could not help smiling.
"You seem quite bowled over. What has she done?"
"I am shaken, and for once in my life I don't know how to act. I want a woman to advise me. Mrs. Lunn refuses to do it. She says it is not her place, but she will be the most affected by it—she and I together."
"It is quite mysterious. Do begin at the beginning."