“Have you seen anything of the girls?” she asked as he approached her.
“Nothing. Where are they?”
She slowly shrugged her shoulders. “I'm the last one to ask. They wouldn't think of telling me,” she returned.
“What's up now?” thought Mr. Evringham. “You don't look well, Madge,” he said aloud.
Once she would have welcomed the evidence of solicitude. Now nothing mattered.
“I don't feel well,” she replied, “and I can't even call the physician I prefer.”
Mr. Evringham stared down at her for a silent minute, and light broke upon him.
“Is it all off with Ballard?” he asked bluntly.
“Yes; and that's what you have done, father, by allowing that child Jewel to come here.”
Mr. Evringham bit his lip. This amused him.