She immediately opened the door and led him out into the hall, where Farwell and the two girls were amusing themselves with the graphophone.
"I know you will be sorry," she said from the threshold, "to hear that Mr. Channing is leaving us at once."
At the tone of her voice, Farwell gave a startled glance toward his friend, and Jemima suddenly put an arm around her sister, further rising to the occasion with polite murmurings of regret. But Jacqueline with one gesture brushed aside tact and subterfuge. She ran to Channing and caught his hand.
"Why, what's the matter?" she cried. "What has happened? Why is mother sending you away?"
"Jacqueline! Am I in the habit of sending guests away from my house?"
"You're doing it now, and I know why!" She threw back her head and laughed. "It's too late, Mummy dear! I suppose the fat's in the fire—but it was fun while it lasted! You didn't suspect your little girl was big enough to have a real sweetheart, did you?" A lovely blush spread over her face. She tugged at Channing's hand. "Come, why don't you tell her everything? Time to 'speak for yourself, John!'"
The silence puzzled her. She looked from one to the other. "Mummy, you're not really angry because we kept it a secret? Remember!—didn't you keep it a secret from your mother, too, just at first? It's a thing girls have to keep to themselves, just at first, till they're used to it—Jemmy," she cried, suddenly turning on her sister, "why are you looking so sympathetic at me?"
Channing lifted the little hand that was clutching his to his lips. "This is good-by," he said hoarsely. "I'm sorry—Your mother will explain.—I must go away."
"But you're coming back soon?"
He shook his head.