"Because I like being with you and Father better. That's the very whole of the reason. Anybody else is such a bother!"
Mrs. Lindsay smoothed the fluffy hair, which was hanging in some disorder after an uproarious game of Fox and Goose, and bent down to kiss the little face that turned up so readily to meet her own.
"My precious pet!" she murmured fondly.
But Aunt Louisa shook her head.
CHAPTER II
An Important Decision
"Gordon," said Mrs. Lindsay to her husband on the following evening, when he was enjoying his after-dinner cup of coffee in the drawing-room, and she judged him to be in a suitable mood to discuss knotty problems, "I am not at all happy about Sylvia."
Mr. Lindsay paused to take an extra lump of sugar, and to help himself deliberately to some more cream.
"Why, what's wrong with the child?" he asked. "I thought she was looking much as usual to-day."
"She looks quite well," replied Mrs. Lindsay; "but I don't feel satisfied, all the same."