"Yes; and I brought him up, too."
"'By their fruits ye shall know them.' But here's Bob and the terriers."
"Don't you fellows ever have a sister," said Bob, as he came up; "Claudia's just savage because the pope's gone. Can't get her morning absolution, you know."
"Are absolution and ablution the same word, Morewood?" asked Ayre.
"Don't know. Ask the Rector. He's sure to turn up when he hears of the rats."
"I think they must be—a sort of spiritual tub. But Morewood will never admit he's been educated. It detracts from his claim to genius."
Eugene, freed from this frivolous company, was not long in discovering Claudia's whereabouts. He felt like a boy released from school and, turning his eyes away from future difficulties, was determined to enjoy himself while he could. Claudia was seated on the lawn in complete idleness and, apparently, considerable discontent.
"Do your guests always scurry away without saying good-by to anybody, Mr. Lane?" she asked.
"I hope that you, at least, will not. But didn't Kate say good-by, or Haddington?"
"I meant Father Stafford, of course."