Presently it was time to summon the children to dinner, and when they were seated at table, and Mrs. Rayburn was carving, she said to Maria—
"Poor unfortunate little souls, what's to become of them now?"
"What's the matter?" asked Frank. "Have you had a letter from muddie?"
"No, indeed, and I doubt I never shall. I wonder, Maria, did she know of this when she was here?"
"Know of what?" Frank cried. "Do tell me, grandma."
"Indeed, I suppose you must know it sooner or later. Your father's in trouble again. First, he loses his good place, and then he goes to Canada and gets put in jail for cheating."
Fred was frightened, though he did not understand. Frank did, and said boldly—
"It's not true. Father never did that—never!"
"Poor child!" said Maria. "Never mind, it's no fault of yours, if he did."
"But he did not. He couldn't," Frank insisted.